Where does “Elfenbeinkugel” come from?
Elfenbeinkugel (German) comes from German Elfenbein, from Middle High German helfenbein, from Old High German helfantbein, from Old High German bein, from Proto-West Germanic bain, from Proto-Germanic bainą, from Proto-Indo-European bʰeyh₂- — to fear, be afraid; to strike, hit; to hew, cut.
Elfenbeinkugel (German): ivory ball
Definitions
- ivory ball
Ancestry of “Elfenbeinkugel”, step by step
Elfenbeinkugel traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via German Elfenbein
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | Elfenbein | ivory |
| 2 | Middle High German | helfenbein | — |
| 3 | Old High German | helfantbein | ivory; elephant bone |
| 4 | Old High German | bein | leg; bone |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | bain | leg; bone |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | bainą | leg; bone |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeyh₂- | to fear, be afraid; to strike, hit; to hew, cut |