Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “graal” come from?

graal (Middle English) comes from Old French graal, from Latin gradalis, from Latin crater, from Ancient Greek κρατήρ, from Ancient Greek κράμα, from Ancient Greek κεράννυμι, from Proto-Hellenic kírnāmi, from Proto-Indo-European ḱerh₂- — head, top; horn.

Ancestry of “graal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old FrenchgraalHoly Grail
2Latingradalisdish
3LatincraterA basin or bowl for water or for mixing; The...
4Ancient Greekκρατήρmixing bowl for wine; messenger who bears an ode;...
5Ancient Greekκράμαmixture
6Ancient GreekκεράννυμιI mix, mingle, blend; I temper, cool by mixing; I...
7Proto-Hellenickírnāmito mix
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱerh₂-head, top; horn
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱerh₂- →