Etymology Explorer › Old French

Where does “cervel” come from?

cervel (Old French) comes from Latin cerebellum, from Latin cerebrum, from Proto-Italic kerazrom, from Proto-Indo-European ḱerh₂-s-ro, from Proto-Indo-European ḱerh₂- — head, top; horn.

cervel (Old French): brain

Definitions

  1. brain

Ancestry of “cervel”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latincerebellumbrain, little brain; seat of senses, intellect
2Latincerebrumbrain; skull
3Proto-Italickerazrombrain
4Proto-Indo-Europeanḱerh₂-s-ro—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanḱerh₂-head, top; horn

Words derived from “cervel”

  • cerveau
  • arrière-cerveau
  • cervelet
  • escerveler
  • chèrvé
  • cervel
  • cerveau
  • sèvo
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱerh₂- →