English
willy
Willy comes from Middle English willy.
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500willy
- Englishtodaysame form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500willy
- Englishtodaysame form
Formed from will + -y
Proto-Indo-European *welh₁- ‘to choose, wish’
…
Proto-Germanic *wiljaną ‘to want’
Proto-West Germanic *willjan ‘to want’
Old English willan ‘to want’
Middle English willen ‘to want something’
English will
Every English word from Middle English willy
Another origin of willy
- Old Englishc. 450–1150wiliġ‘willow’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500wilȝe
- Englishtodaywilly
Another origin of willy
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*weliko-‘willow-tree’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*wiligijā‘a (wicker) basket’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150wiliġe‘wicker basket’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500wilie
- Englishtodaywilly
Today it means
adj Willing; favourable; ready; eager.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle English willy / willy