Where does “vågehval” come from?

vågehval (Norwegian Bokmål) comes from Danish våge, from Old Danish waghæ, from Old Norse vaka, from Proto-Germanic wakāną, from Proto-Indo-European weǵ- — lively, awake; strong.

vågehval (Norwegian Bokmål): a minke whale

Definitions

  1. a minke whale

Ancestry of “vågehval”, step by step

vågehval traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Danish våge

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Danishvågeopening in the ice, polynya; buzzard; any bird of...
2Old Danishwaghæ—
3Old Norsevakato be awake, keep awake; waking; vigil
4Proto-Germanicwakānąto wake, to be awake
5Proto-Indo-Europeanweǵ-lively, awake; strong

via Norwegian Bokmål hval

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Norwegian Bokmålhvala whale
2Danishhvalwhale
3Old Norsehvalrwhale
4Proto-Germanichwalazwhale, sheatfish
5Proto-Indo-European(s)kʷáloslarge fish; sheatfish

via Norwegian Bokmål våg

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Norwegian Bokmålvåga narrow inlet; imperative of våge
2Latinvaguswandering, rambling, strolling; uncertain, vague
3Proto-Italicwagos—
4Proto-Indo-EuropeanHwogos—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weǵ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic wakāną →Every word from Old Norse vaka →