Where does “gavelock” come from?
gavelock (Middle English) comes from Old English gafeluc, from Old English gafol, from Old Irish gabul, from Proto-Celtic gablā, from Proto-Indo-European gʰeh₁bʰ- — to grab, take.
Ancestry of “gavelock”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old English | gafeluc | spear, javelin |
| 2 | Old English | gafol | gift, offering; tribute, tax, duty; due, debt;... |
| 3 | Old Irish | gabul | fork; branch; gallows, gibbet |
| 4 | Proto-Celtic | gablā | fork |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | gʰeh₁bʰ- | to grab, take |
Words derived from “gavelock”