Where does “cool” come from?

cool (Middle English) comes from Middle English pek, from Middle English pike, from Old English pīc, from Proto-Germanic *pīk, from Latin pix, from Proto-Indo-European pik-, from Proto-Indo-European pi- — sap, juice.

Ancestry of “cool”, step by step

cool traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Middle English pek

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishpekpeak
2Middle EnglishpikeAlternative form of pyke; pike; sharp point, iron...
3Old Englishpīcpointed object, pick axe
4Proto-Germanic*pīk—
5Latinpixpitch, tar
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpik-to be angry; pitch; resin
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpi-sap, juice

via Old English cōl

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishcōlcool, cold, tranquil, calm
2Proto-West Germanickōl(ī)cool
3Proto-Germanickōluzcool
4Proto-Germanickalanąto be cold, to freeze
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵel-to swallow; swallow

Words derived from “cool”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European pi- →
cool — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer