Where does “pfeilschnell” come from?

pfeilschnell (German) comes from German Pfeil, from Old High German pfīl, from Proto-Germanic *pīl, from Latin pīlum, from Proto-Italic pistlom, from Proto-Indo-European pis-tlo-, from Proto-Indo-European peys- — to grind, to crush.

pfeilschnell (German): swift as an arrow

Definitions

  1. swift as an arrow

Ancestry of “pfeilschnell”, step by step

pfeilschnell traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German Pfeil

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanPfeilarrow; mouse cursor
2Old High Germanpfīlarrow
3Proto-Germanic*pīl—
4Latinpīluma pounder, pestle
5Proto-Italicpistlom—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpis-tlo-—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpeys-to grind, to crush

via German schnell

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanschnellquick, fast; quickly; again; quick
2Middle High Germansnel—
3Old High Germansnelnimble, brave, quick, lively; warlike, lively,...
4Proto-West Germanic*snël—
5Proto-Germanicsnellazactive, bold, quick
6Proto-Indo-Europeansnedʰlos—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peys- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European pis-tlo- →Every word from Proto-Italic pistlom →