Etymology Map
Back to all words

Wail

3 stages from Old Norse to English.

Today it means to give a long high cry of grief

Where does the word "wail" come from? It comes from Old Norse væla, passing through Middle English before entering English (1500s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
væla
Old Norse · medieval
"to lament"
to lament, from 'væ', woe
2
Stage 2 of 3
weilen
Middle English · 1300s
"to lament"
borrowed in the north of England
3
Stage 3 of 3
wail
English · 1500s
"to cry out in grief"
'wail' and 'woe' share the same ancient cry
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

Wail’s story begins in Old Norse: væla meant “to lament.” To lament, from 'væ', woe. By 1300s, the word had taken hold in Middle English as weilen. Borrowed in the north of England. It reached English by 1500s as wail. 'wail' and 'woe' share the same ancient cry. Today, wail means to give a long high cry of grief.