English
childe
Childe comes from Old English ċild ‘child’, from Proto-Germanic *kelþaz ‘womb’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gelt-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gelt-reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*kelþaz‘womb’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*kilþreconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150ċild‘child’
- Englishearliest quotation 1524childe
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gelt-reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*kelþaz‘womb’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*kilþreconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150ċild‘child’
- Englishearliest quotation 1524childe
Earliest quotation: 1524, will of William Butler of Brotton Juxta , The Publications of the Surtees Society: “I will that non childe of myne have any…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *gel- ‘to ball up, amass’
clean, cold, cloud, globe, cluster, gel, jelly, chill, clout, clot, gelatin, clough, gelato, glebe, ganglion, clod, globus, klutz, globulin, 47 more
through Proto-Indo-European *gelt-
through Old English ċild ‘child’
Today it means
noun A child of noble birth.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *gelt- / childe