Where does “vel” come from?
vel (Middle Dutch) comes from Old Dutch fel, from Proto-West Germanic *fell, from Proto-Germanic fellą, from Proto-Indo-European pel- — to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold.
Ancestry of “vel”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old Dutch | fel | — |
| 2 | Proto-West Germanic | *fell | — |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | fellą | skin, hide |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | pel- | to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold |