call

Where does the word "call" come from? It comes from Old Norse kalla, and was adopted directly into English (1100s).

Call’s story begins in Old Norse: kalla meant “to cry out, to summon.” Replaced much of the work of Old English 'clipian' and 'hātan'. It reached English by 1100s as call. Settled as the standard English word for summoning or naming someone. Today, call means to summon someone, give something a name, or telephone someone.

1. Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval kalla "to cry out, to summon", replaced much of the work of Old English 'clipian' and 'hātan'.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1100s call "to summon, name, or telephone someone", settled as the standard English word for summoning or naming someone.