Back to all words

Hail

2 stages from Old Norse to English.

Today it means to greet or acclaim someone enthusiastically, or to call out to attract attention
1
Stage 1 of 2
heill
Old Norse · medieval
"whole, healthy"
whole, healthy, used as a greeting wishing good health
2
Stage 2 of 2
hail
English · 1200s
"to greet or call out to someone"
settled as the English greeting and verb meaning to call out to someone
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom