Where does “merbwll” come from?

merbwll (Welsh) comes from Welsh merf, from Middle Welsh merf, from Proto-Brythonic *merw, from Proto-Celtic *merwis — lifeless.

merbwll (Welsh): stagnant pool

Definitions

  1. stagnant pool

Ancestry of “merbwll”, step by step

merbwll traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Welsh merf

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Welshmerfinsipid, tasteless
2Middle Welshmerf—
3Proto-Brythonic*merw—
4Proto-Celtic*merwislifeless

via Welsh pwll

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Welshpwllpool, pond, puddle, pit
Every word from Proto-Celtic *merwis →Every word from Proto-Brythonic *merw →Every word from Middle Welsh merf →