Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “wadmal” come from?

wadmal (Middle English) comes from Old Norse váðmál, from Old Norse mál, from Proto-Germanic mēlą, from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European mel-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.

wadmal (Middle English): woolen cloth

Definitions

  1. woolen cloth

Ancestry of “wadmal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norseváðmálwoolen stuff
2Old Norsemállanguage; speech; matter, affair
3Proto-Germanicmēląmeasure, measurement; time, occasion; point in...
4Proto-Indo-Europeanmelh₂-to grind, to crush
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmel-soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange

Words derived from “wadmal”

  • wad
  • wadding
  • tightwad
  • dickwad
  • wadcutter
  • fuckwad
  • wadder
  • jerkwad
  • dipwad
  • unwad
  • -wad
  • snotwad
  • dirtwad
  • sleazewad
  • slimewad
  • cockwad
  • scumwad
  • dorkwad
  • geekwad
  • tightwaddish
  • clitwad
  • douchewad
  • asswad
  • prickwad
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey- →