English
Forelle
Forelle comes from German Forelle ‘trout’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *perḱ- ‘speckled’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*perḱ-‘speckled’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*furhnō‘trout’reconstructed
- Old High Germanc. 750–1050forhana
- Middle High Germanc. 1050–1350forhel
- Germanc. 1650–presentForelle‘trout’
- Englishtodaysame form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*perḱ-‘speckled’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*furhnō‘trout’reconstructed
- Old High Germanc. 750–1050forhana
- Middle High Germanc. 1050–1350forhel
- Germanc. 1650–presentForelle‘trout’
- Englishtodaysame form
The story
From German Forelle (‘trout’), because of its speckled coloration.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *perḱ- ‘speckled’
pork, perch, porcelain, farrow, furlong, furrow, porpoise, porcine, porcini, 11 more
Today it means
noun A pear cultivar
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *perḱ- / Forelle