Where does “волость” come from?

волость (Ukrainian) comes from Old East Slavic волость, from Proto-Slavic volstь, from Proto-Balto-Slavic walˀstis, from Proto-Indo-European h₂welh₁- — to rule; strong, powerful; hair; wool.

волость (Ukrainian): volost, district, county

Definitions

  1. volost, district, county

Ancestry of “волость”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old East Slavicволость—
2Proto-Slavicvolstьpower, authority, rule
3Proto-Balto-Slavicwalˀstispower, authority, rule
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂welh₁-to rule; strong, powerful; hair; wool
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂welh₁- →Every word from Proto-Balto-Slavic walˀstis →Every word from Proto-Slavic volstь →