Where does “javel” come from?

javel (Old French) comes from Vulgar Latin gabalus, from Gaulish gabulum, from Proto-Celtic gablā, from Proto-Indo-European gʰeh₁bʰ- — to grab, take.

Ancestry of “javel”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Vulgar Latingabalusa gallows, gibbet; a cross; a fork
2Gaulishgabulum—
3Proto-Celticgablāfork
4Proto-Indo-Europeangʰeh₁bʰ-to grab, take
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰeh₁bʰ- →Every word from Proto-Celtic gablā →Every word from Gaulish gabulum →