Where does “kerl” come from?

kerl (Middle Low German) comes from Proto-Germanic karilaz, from Proto-Germanic karaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵerh₂- — to grow old, to mature.

Ancestry of “kerl”, step by step

kerl traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Proto-Germanic karilaz

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Germanickarilazfree man, franklin; little man, young man
2Proto-Germanickaraz—
3Proto-Indo-Europeanǵerh₂-to grow old, to mature

via Old Dutch keril

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Dutchkeril—
2Proto-West Germanic*karilfree peasant, churl

Words derived from “kerl”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵerh₂- →Every word from Proto-Germanic karaz →Every word from Proto-Germanic karilaz →