Where does “well” come from?

well (Yola) comes from Middle English welle, from Old English wielle, from Proto-West Germanic *wallijā, from Proto-Germanic wallijǭ, from Proto-Indo-European wēlH-, from Proto-Indo-European welH- — to turn, to wind.

well (Yola): well

Definitions

  1. well

Ancestry of “well”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishwelleAlternative form of wel
2Old Englishwiellewell
3Proto-West Germanic*wallijāwelling, bubbling, overflowing
4Proto-Germanicwallijǭwell; swirl; wave
5Proto-Indo-EuropeanwēlH-to roll, to undulate
6Proto-Indo-EuropeanwelH-to turn, to wind
Every word from Proto-Indo-European welH- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European wēlH- →Every word from Proto-Germanic wallijǭ →