Where does “kerl” come from?

kerl (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 “kerl”, step by step

kerl traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Old Dutch karl

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

via Old Dutch keril

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Dutchkeril—
2Proto-West Germanic*karilfree peasant, churl

via Old Dutch karal

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Dutchkaral—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵerh₂- →Every word from Proto-Germanic karaz →Every word from Proto-Germanic karilaz →