Where does “eller” come from?

eller (Middle English) comes from Old English ellærn, from Old English ellen, from Proto-West Germanic alljan, from Proto-Germanic aljaną, from Proto-Indo-European h₁elh₂- — to drive, move, go.

Ancestry of “eller”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old EnglishellærnAlternative form of ellen
2Old Englishellenstrength, courage, bravery; elder tree; elder...
3Proto-West Germanicalljanzeal
4Proto-Germanicaljanązeal, eagerness; strength, courage; to cause to...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁elh₂-to drive, move, go
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁elh₂- →Every word from Proto-Germanic aljaną →Every word from Proto-West Germanic alljan →
eller — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer