Where does “hóffífill” come from?

hóffífill (Icelandic) comes from Icelandic fífill, from Old Norse fífill, from Old Norse fífl, from Proto-Germanic fimbulaz, from Proto-Indo-European bamb- — to inflate, swell; round object.

hóffífill (Icelandic): coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)

Definitions

  1. coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)

Ancestry of “hóffífill”, step by step

hóffífill traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Icelandic fífill

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Icelandicfífilldandelion
2Old Norsefífilldandelion
3Old Norsefíflmonster; giant
4Proto-Germanicfimbulazgiant; monster
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbamb-to inflate, swell; round object

via Icelandic hófur

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Icelandichófurhoof
2Old Norsehófrhoof
3Proto-Germanichōfazhoof
4Proto-Indo-Europeanḱoph₂óshoof
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bamb- →Every word from Proto-Germanic fimbulaz →Every word from Old Norse fífl →