Where does “Wählhebel” come from?

Wählhebel (German) comes from German wählen, from Middle High German weln, from Old High German wellen, from Proto-West Germanic walljan, from Proto-Germanic wiljaną, from Proto-Indo-European wélyoyt, from Proto-Indo-European wélyeti, from Proto-Indo-European welh₁- — to choose; to want.

Ancestry of “Wählhebel”, step by step

Wählhebel traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German wählen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanwählento choose; to dial; to vote
2Middle High Germanwelnto choose
3Old High Germanwellento want; to choose
4Proto-West Germanicwalljanto choose, to pick, to select
5Proto-Germanicwiljanąto want
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwélyoyt
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwélyeti
8Proto-Indo-Europeanwelh₁-to choose; to want

via German hebel

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanhebeloperating lever, hand gear
2Middle High Germanhebel
3Old High Germanhebil
4Proto-GermanichabilazThat which raises or lifts; lifter
5Proto-Germanichabjanąto have, to hold; to lift, heave
6Proto-Indo-Europeankh₂pyé-
7Proto-Indo-Europeankeh₂p-to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European welh₁-Every word from Proto-Indo-European wélyetiEvery word from Proto-Indo-European wélyoyt
Wählhebel — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer