Where does “ealdwif” come from?

ealdwif (Old English) comes from Old English eald, from Old English feld, from Proto-West Germanic felþu, from Proto-Germanic felþuz, from Proto-Indo-European pelh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European pel- — to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold.

ealdwif (Old English): an old woman

Definitions

  1. an old woman

Ancestry of “ealdwif”, step by step

ealdwif traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Old English eald

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishealdold; ancient; original
2Old Englishfeldfield
3Proto-West Germanicfelþufield
4Proto-Germanicfelþuzfield, plain
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpelh₂-to approach
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpel-to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold

via Old English wīf

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishwīfwife; woman, female, lady, wife; female
2Proto-West Germanicwībwoman; wife
3Proto-Germanicwībąwoman; wife
4Proto-Indo-Europeangʰwíh₂bʰ-shame, pudenda
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pel- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European pelh₂- →Every word from Proto-Germanic felþuz →