Where does “gavel” come from?

gavel (Middle English) comes from Old English gafol, from Old Irish gabul, from Proto-Celtic gablā, from Proto-Indo-European gʰeh₁bʰ- — to grab, take.

gavel (Middle English): rent; tribute

Definitions

  1. rent; tribute

Ancestry of “gavel”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishgafolgift, offering; tribute, tax, duty; due, debt;...
2Old Irishgabulfork; branch; gallows, gibbet
3Proto-Celticgablāfork
4Proto-Indo-Europeangʰeh₁bʰ-to grab, take

Words derived from “gavel”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰeh₁bʰ- →Every word from Proto-Celtic gablā →Every word from Old Irish gabul →