Where does “beile” come from?

beile (Pennsylvania German) comes from Middle English mel, from Old English mǣl, from Proto-West Germanic māl, from Proto-Germanic mēlą, from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European mel-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.

beile (Pennsylvania German): to hew; to cut

Definitions

  1. to hew; to cut

Ancestry of “beile”, step by step

beile traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Middle English mel

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishmelA time, occasion or event; The occasion when a...
2Old Englishmǣltime, measure; speech, talk, conversation;...
3Proto-West Germanicmāltime, occasion; mealtime
4Proto-Germanicmēląmeasure, measurement; time, occasion; point in...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmelh₂-to grind, to crush
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmel-soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange

via Pennsylvania German Beil

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Pennsylvania GermanBeilhatchet
2Middle High Germanbīl
3Old High Germanbīhal
4Proto-Germanicbíþla-axe
5Proto-Germanicbītanąto bite
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeyd-to split
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰey-bee
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey-Every word from Proto-Indo-European mel-Every word from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-
beile — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer