stígvél

Etymology

Attested from mid-16th century. Via Middle Low German stevel or Danish støvle, from Italian stivale (“a boot”), from Old French estival, of ultimate Latin uncertain origin; altered by association with stíga (“to step”).^[1]

Belief that it derives from the Icelandic verb stíga (“to step”) and vél (“a machine”) similar to borvél (“a drill; literally a drilling machine”), eldavél (“a cooking stove; literally a cooking machine”) and þvottavél (“washing machine”) is a folk etymology.^[1] This may be inferred from the fact that stígvél is a neuter noun while vél and the other compounds listed are feminine nouns.^[1]

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈstiɣ.vjɛːl/

Noun

stígvél n (genitive singular stígvéls, nominative plural stígvél)

1. a boot

References

Further reading

• "stígvél"