awl

Etymology

Came into English from Middle English aul, alle or al, which went back to Old English æl, from Proto-West Germanic *al, from Proto-Germanic *alaz, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁ólos. It is cognate with Saterland Frisian Äil (“awl”), Dutch aal (“awl”), German Low German Ahl (“awl”), German Ahle (“awl”) and Icelandic alur (“awl”). Its spelling was influenced by the Old English synonym awel or awul, meaning “awl”, from Proto-West Germanic *ahwal, from Proto-Germanic *ahwalaz, “fork, hook”, of unknown origin. It is a doublet of elsen.