Etymology Explorer › Middle Dutch

Where does “hêlen” come from?

hêlen (Middle Dutch) comes from Old Dutch helan, from Proto-West Germanic helan, from Proto-Germanic helaną, from Proto-Indo-European ḱéleti, from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- — to cover; to incline.

Ancestry of “hêlen”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Dutchhelanto hide, to conceal
2Proto-West Germanichelanto hide, to conceal
3Proto-Germanichelanąto hide, to conceal
4Proto-Indo-Europeanḱéletito be covering, hiding
5Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline

Words derived from “hêlen”

  • heling
  • heelmeester
  • helen
  • heler
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- →