Where does “Kopfpolster” come from?

Kopfpolster (German) comes from German polster, from Middle High German polster, from Old High German polstar, from Old Norse bólstr, from Proto-Germanic bulstraz, from Proto-Indo-European bʰelǵʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European bʰel-, from Proto-Indo-European bʰōl-.

Kopfpolster (German): pillow

Definitions

  1. pillow

Ancestry of “Kopfpolster”, step by step

Kopfpolster traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German polster

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanpolsterpad, padding
2Middle High Germanpolster
3Old High Germanpolstar
4Old Norsebólstrbolster, pillow
5Proto-Germanicbulstrazbolster, pillow, cushion
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰelǵʰ-to swell
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰel-to sound; to speak, roar, bark; shiny, white; to...
8Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰōl-

via German kopf

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germankopfhead
2Middle High Germankopfdrinking vessel
3Latincūppadrinking vessel
4Latincūpatub, cask, tun, vat
5Ancient Greekκώπηa handle
6Proto-Indo-Europeankóh₂p-eh₂
7Proto-Indo-Europeankeh₂p-to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰōl-Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰel-Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰelǵʰ-
Kopfpolster — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer