Where does “kōl” come from?
kōl (Middle High German) comes from Old High German kol, from Proto-West Germanic kol, from Proto-Germanic kulą, from Proto-Indo-European gʷol-, from Proto-Indo-European ǵwelH- — to burn; to shine.
Ancestry of “kōl”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old High German | kol | coal |
| 2 | Proto-West Germanic | kol | coal |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | kulą | coal |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷol- | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵwelH- | to burn; to shine |