Where does “fjällräv” come from?

fjällräv (Swedish) comes from Swedish fjäll, from Old Swedish fiäl, from Old Norse fjall, from Proto-Germanic fellą, from Proto-Indo-European pel- — to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold.

fjällräv (Swedish): arctic fox, Vulpes lagopus

Definitions

  1. arctic fox, Vulpes lagopus

Ancestry of “fjällräv”, step by step

fjällräv traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Swedish fjäll

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Swedishfjälla mountain; a scale
2Old Swedishfiäl—
3Old Norsefjallmountain
4Proto-Germanicfelląskin, hide
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpel-to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold

via Swedish räv

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Swedishräva fox; an old and experienced person
2Old Norserefra fox
3Proto-Norse*rebaʀfox
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pel- →Every word from Proto-Germanic fellą →Every word from Old Norse fjall →