Where does “gaffel” come from?

gaffel (German) comes from Low German Gaffel, from Middle Low German gaffele, from Proto-West Germanic gabulu, from Gaulish gabalos, from Proto-Celtic gabalos, from Proto-Indo-European gʰabʰlos — fork, branch of tree.

gaffel (German): gaff spar for a sail

Definitions

  1. gaff spar for a sail

Ancestry of “gaffel”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Low GermanGaffel—
2Middle Low Germangaffele—
3Proto-West Germanicgabulufork; pitchfork
4Gaulishgabalos—
5Proto-Celticgabalosfork, forked branch
6Proto-Indo-Europeangʰabʰlosfork, branch of tree
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰabʰlos →Every word from Proto-Celtic gabalos →Every word from Gaulish gabalos →