Where does “zahnwal” come from?

zahnwal (German) comes from German Zahn, from Middle High German zan, from Old High German zan, from Proto-West Germanic tanþ, from Proto-Germanic tanþs, from Proto-Indo-European h₃dónts, from Proto-Indo-European h₁ed- — to eat.

zahnwal (German): toothed whale, a member of the Odontoceti suborder

Definitions

  1. toothed whale, a member of the Odontoceti suborder

Ancestry of “zahnwal”, step by step

zahnwal traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German Zahn

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanZahntooth; fang; tusk
2Middle High Germanzantooth
3Old High GermanzanAlternative form of zand
4Proto-West Germanictanþtooth
5Proto-Germanictanþstooth
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃dóntstooth
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁ed-to eat

via German wal

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanwalwhale
2Middle High Germanwala whale
3Old High Germanwalbattlefield
4Proto-West Germanichwalwhale
5Proto-Germanichwalazwhale, sheatfish
6Proto-Indo-European(s)kʷáloslarge fish; sheatfish
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁ed- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃dónts →Every word from Proto-Germanic tanþs →
zahnwal — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer