Etymology Explorer › German

Where does “angel” come from?

angel (German) comes from Middle High German angel, from Old High German angul, from Proto-Germanic angulaz, from Proto-Indo-European h₂énk- — to bend; curve; bow; to bend; bow; curve.

angel (German): singular imperative of angeln

Definitions

  1. singular imperative of angeln

Ancestry of “angel”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle High Germanangel—
2Old High Germanangulfish hook, sting
3Proto-Germanicangulazhook; prickle
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂énk-to bend; curve; bow; to bend; bow; curve
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂énk- →