Where does “Pottwal” come from?

Pottwal (German) comes from Old Dutch potswal, from Proto-Germanic hwalaz, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kʷálos — large fish; sheatfish.

Pottwal (German): sperm whale

Definitions

  1. sperm whale

Ancestry of “Pottwal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Dutchpotswal—
2Proto-Germanichwalazwhale, sheatfish
3Proto-Indo-European(s)kʷáloslarge fish; sheatfish
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)kʷálos →Every word from Proto-Germanic hwalaz →Every word from Old Dutch potswal →