Where does “hålla andan” come from?

hålla andan (Swedish) comes from Swedish hålla, from Old Swedish halda, from Old Norse halda, from Proto-Germanic haldaną, from Proto-Indo-European kel- — to hit; beat; to pierce, to stab; goblet.

hålla andan (Swedish): to hold one's breath (literally or figuratively)

Definitions

  1. to hold one's breath (literally or figuratively)

Ancestry of “hålla andan”, step by step

hålla andan traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Swedish hålla

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Swedishhållahold; grip; hold; to cause to wait; hold; arrange...
2Old Swedishhaldato hold; to keep; to guard, defend
3Old Norsehaldato hold
4Proto-Germanichaldanąto hold, to keep
5Proto-Indo-Europeankel-to hit; beat; to pierce, to stab; goblet

via Swedish andan

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Swedishandan
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kel-Every word from Proto-Germanic haldanąEvery word from Old Norse halda