Where does “kéo lê” come from?

kéo lê (Vietnamese) comes from Vietnamese kéo, from English Joe, from English joseph, from Hebrew יוֹסֵף — shall add.

kéo lê (Vietnamese): to drag

Definitions

  1. to drag

Ancestry of “kéo lê”, step by step

kéo lê traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Vietnamese kéo

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Vietnamesekéoto pull; scissors
2EnglishJoeA male; a guy; a fellow
3EnglishjosephA woman's riding habit worn in the 18th century...
4Hebrewיוֹסֵףshall add

via Vietnamese lễ

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Vietnameselễbribe; offering; festival, festive day, holiday;...
2Proto-Vietick-lɛː
Every word from Hebrew יוֹסֵףEvery word from English josephEvery word from English Joe
kéo lê — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer