Where does “Kerl” come from?

Kerl (German) comes from Middle Low German kerl, from Proto-Germanic karilaz, from Proto-Germanic karaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵerh₂- — to grow old, to mature.

Kerl (German): fellow, guy, chap, bloke; freeman

Definitions

  1. fellow, guy, chap, bloke; freeman

Ancestry of “Kerl”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Low Germankerl—
2Proto-Germanickarilazfree man, franklin; little man, young man
3Proto-Germanickaraz—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanǵerh₂-to grow old, to mature
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵerh₂- →Every word from Proto-Germanic karaz →Every word from Proto-Germanic karilaz →