Where does “javalina” come from?

javalina (Portuguese) comes from Old French javeline, from Old French javelot, from Vulgar Latin gabalottus, from Gaulish gabalos, from Proto-Celtic gabalos, from Proto-Indo-European gʰabʰlos — fork, branch of tree.

javalina (Portuguese): javelin; female equivalent of javali

Definitions

  1. javelin; female equivalent of javali

Ancestry of “javalina”, step by step

javalina traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Old French javeline

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchjaveline—
2Old Frenchjavelotjavelin
3Vulgar Latingabalottusspear
4Gaulishgabalos—
5Proto-Celticgabalosfork, forked branch
6Proto-Indo-Europeangʰabʰlosfork, branch of tree

via Portuguese javali

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Portuguesejavaliwild boar
2Spanishjabalíwild boar; peccary, javelina; warthog
3Arabicجَبَلِيّof the mountains
4Arabicجَبَلmountain, rock
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰabʰlos →Every word from Proto-Celtic gabalos →Every word from Gaulish gabalos →