Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “gleman” come from?

gleman (Middle English) comes from Old English glēomann, from Old English glēo, from Old English glīw, from Proto-Germanic glīwą, from Proto-Indo-European gʰlew-, from Proto-Indo-European gʰel- — to call; to chant; to shout.

Ancestry of “gleman”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishglēomann—
2Old Englishglēoglee, joy
3Old Englishglīwglee, pleasure, mirth, play, sport; music;...
4Proto-Germanicglīwąjoy, gladness, merriment, mirth
5Proto-Indo-Europeangʰlew-to be glad; jest; joke; to joke, make fun, enjoy;...
6Proto-Indo-Europeangʰel-to call; to chant; to shout

Words derived from “gleman”

  • gleeman
  • gleewoman
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰel- →