Etymograph

English

Shalott

Shalott comes from Welsh ystol ‘North Wales form of ysgol (“ladder”)’, and goes back to ysgol.

  1. Welshc. 1500–presentysgol
  2. Welsh, derivedc. 1500–presentystol‘North Wales form of ysgol (“ladder”)’
  3. EnglishtodayShalott

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Earlier history not traced here.

Lineage

  1. Welshc. 1500–presentysgol
  2. Welsh, derivedc. 1500–presentystol‘North Wales form of ysgol (“ladder”)’
  3. EnglishtodayShalott

The story

The variation between Ast- and Asc- suggest that it comes from Welsh ystol, alternate form Welsh ysgol, both meaning ladder (and derived from Latin scala). The suffix is diminutive, probably meaning flight of stairs (since she lived in a tower).

Every English word from Welsh ysgol

Today it means

name Legendary place in Tennyson's The Lady of Shalott and elsewhere, identified with Guildford by Malory.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Welsh ysgol / Shalott

Shirt and support for this word