Where does “swell” come from?

swell (Middle English) comes from Old English swellan, from Proto-West Germanic *swellan, from Proto-Germanic swellaną, from Proto-Indo-European swel- — to smolder; burn; scorch; beam, board, frame,...

swell (Middle English): Alternative form of swellen; Alternative form of...

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of swellen; Alternative form of...

Ancestry of “swell”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishswellanto swell
2Proto-West Germanic*swellan
3Proto-Germanicswellanąto swell
4Proto-Indo-Europeanswel-to smolder; burn; scorch; beam, board, frame,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European swel-Every word from Proto-Germanic swellanąEvery word from Proto-West Germanic *swellan
swell — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer