Etymology Explorer › Middle High German

Where does “steil” come from?

steil (Middle High German) comes from Old High German steigal, from Proto-Germanic staigilaz, from Proto-Germanic staigijaną, from Proto-Germanic stīganą, from Proto-Indo-European stéygʰeti, from Proto-Indo-European steygʰ- — to go; to climb.

Ancestry of “steil”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old High Germansteigal—
2Proto-Germanicstaigilazsteep
3Proto-Germanicstaigijanąto escalate, raise, lift; to cause to ascend
4Proto-Germanicstīganąto go up; climb, ascend
5Proto-Indo-Europeanstéygʰetito be walking; to be climbing
6Proto-Indo-Europeansteygʰ-to go; to climb

Words derived from “steil”

  • steil
  • Steilheck
Every word from Proto-Indo-European steygʰ- →