Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “carl” come from?

carl (Middle English) comes from Old English carl, from Old Norse Karl, from Proto-Norse ᚲᚨᚱᛁᛚᚨᛉ, from Proto-Germanic karilaz, from Proto-Germanic karaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵerh₂- — to grow old, to mature.

Ancestry of “carl”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishcarla freeman, a man of middle rank or social class;...
2Old NorseKarl—
3Proto-Norseᚲᚨᚱᛁᛚᚨᛉ—
4Proto-Germanickarilazfree man, franklin; little man, young man
5Proto-Germanickaraz—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵerh₂-to grow old, to mature

Words derived from “carl”

  • carl
  • carls
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵerh₂- →