athel

English

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈæθəl/, /ˈeɪθəl/

Etymology 1

From Middle English athel, hathel (“noble; nobleman, hero”), from Old English æþele (“noble, eminent, aristocratic, excellent, famous, glorious, splendid, fine, costly, valuable, vigorous, lusty, young, pleasant, sweet-smelling, natural, congenial, suitable”), from Proto-Germanic *aþalaz, *aþaljaz, *aþiluz (“noble, of noble birth”), from Proto-Indo-European *átta (“father”). Akin to Old Frisian eþel, Dutch edel, German edel. Middle English form hathel due to conflation with Old English hæleþ (“hero”). See heleth.

Adjective

athel (comparative more athel, superlative most athel)

  1. (obsolete or Britain dialectal) Noble; illustrious
Derived terms

Noun

athel (plural athels)

  1. (obsolete) A chief or lord.
  2. (Britain dialectal, Scotland) A prince or noble.

Etymology 2

From Arabic أَثَل‎ (ʾaṯal)

Noun

athel (plural athels)

  1. A kind of tamarisk native to northern Africa and the Middle East, Tamarix aphylla, planted widely elsewhere as a shade tree and a windbreak due to its tolerance of heat and of alkaline soils, but tending to become invasive outside of its native range.

Anagrams

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