Where does “Zwerchfell” come from?
Zwerchfell (German) comes from German Fell, from Frankish vël, from Old High German fël, from Proto-West Germanic *fell, from Proto-Germanic fellą, from Proto-Indo-European pel- — to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold.
Zwerchfell (German): diaphragm; midriff
Ancestry of “Zwerchfell”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | German | Fell | fur, pelt; hide |
| 2 | Frankish | vël | skin, hide |
| 3 | Old High German | fël | — |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | *fell | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | fellą | skin, hide |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | pel- | to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold |