Etymology Explorer › Norwegian Nynorsk

Where does “nisse” come from?

nisse (Norwegian Nynorsk) comes from Norwegian Nisse, from Danish nisse, from Danish Niels, from Latin Nīcolāus, from Ancient Greek Νικόλαος, from Ancient Greek λᾱός, from Proto-Hellenic lāwós, from Proto-Indo-European leh₂wos — to bark, howl; to be concealed.

nisse (Norwegian Nynorsk): A small mythological being living in farmsteads;...

Definitions

  1. A small mythological being living in farmsteads;...

Ancestry of “nisse”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1NorwegianNisse—
2DanishnisseA small mythological being living in farmsteads;...
3DanishNielsNicholas
4LatinNīcolāus—
5Ancient GreekΝικόλαοςNicolas
6Ancient Greekλᾱόςpeople; men; the people
7Proto-Helleniclāwós—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanleh₂wospeople
9Proto-Indo-Europeanleh₂-to bark, howl; to be concealed
Every word from Proto-Indo-European leh₂- →