Etymology Explorer › Middle Dutch

Where does “kerel” come from?

kerel (Middle Dutch) comes from Old Dutch karl, from Proto-Germanic karilaz, from Proto-Germanic karaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵerh₂- — to grow old, to mature.

Ancestry of “kerel”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Dutchkarl—
2Proto-Germanickarilazfree man, franklin; little man, young man
3Proto-Germanickaraz—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanǵerh₂-to grow old, to mature

Words derived from “kerel”

  • kerel
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵerh₂- →