Etymology Explorer › Old Irish

Where does “mell” come from?

mell (Old Irish) comes from Proto-Celtic melsā, from Proto-Indo-European mel-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.

mell (Old Irish): a ball, sphere, round mass; a round protuberance,...

Definitions

  1. a ball, sphere, round mass; a round protuberance,...

Ancestry of “mell”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Celticmelsāknuckle
2Proto-Indo-Europeanmel-soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub
3Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange

Words derived from “mell”

  • cruinnmheall
  • meall
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey- →