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.

carl (Middle English): A male person usually in the following senses, especially as a term of address

Definitions

  1. A male person usually in the following senses, especially as a term of address

Ancestry of “carl”, step by step

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

Words derived from “carl”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵerh₂- →Every word from Proto-Germanic karaz →Every word from Proto-Germanic karilaz →