Where does “geil” come from?

geil (Norwegian Nynorsk) comes from Old Norse geil, from Proto-Germanic gailō, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰēy- — to yawn, gape; to go.

geil (Norwegian Nynorsk): narrow passage, especially between houses

Definitions

  1. narrow passage, especially between houses

Ancestry of “geil”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norsegeilnarrow glen, lane
2Proto-Germanicgailōa gap; crevice; chasm; ravine
3Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰēy-to yawn, gape; to go
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰēy- →Every word from Proto-Germanic gailō →Every word from Old Norse geil →