hol

hol¹ hole

Pronunciation

• /xol/, [hol]^[1]

Forms

hol n (strong a-stem; genitive singular holes, nominative plural holu)^[1]

Etymology

The word for the hole is inherited from Proto-West Germanic *hol (“hollow space, cavity”),^[1] from Proto-Germanic *hulą, a noun made from the adjective *hulaz (“hollow”).^[1][2] The noun has the same form in Old Norse hol, Old Frisian hol and Old High German hol, and Gothic 𐌷𐌿𐌻𐌿𐌽𐌳𐌹 (hulundi, “cave”) is made from the same adjective.^[3][4][5]

The further origin of the adjective is disputed.^[1][5][6] Kroonen sets up Proto-Indo-European *kuH-ló-;^[5] Holthausen and Köbler compare Latin caulis (“stalk”) and Lithuanian kaulas (“bone”) under a root Proto-Indo-European *kaul-, *kul- (Pokorny 537),^[3][4] and Orel derives it from Proto-Germanic *helaną (“to hide”).^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first dated record is in the Corpus Glossary (s. ix¹), where the plural holu glosses Latin “cavernus”.^[7][8] In the Old English Boethius (s. x med.) the prisoner complains that the false joys of the world left him swa blindne on þis dimme hol, “blind in this dark hole”.^[9][8]

Semantic evolution

It names a hollow place, a cave, and the den of an animal: the lion lurks in its hol, and foxes have holu in the gospels.^[10] In the charter bounds it marks hollows used as landmarks, like wæbbeles hol in a charter of 934.^[11][12][8] The weak noun hola has the same meaning.^[10][3]

It lived on as Middle English hole, now English hole.^[1]

Timeline

• s. ix¹ – holu glossing “cavernus” in the Corpus Glossary.^[7][8]
• s. x med. – on þis dimme hol in the Old English Boethius.^[9][8]
• s. x med. – wæbbeles hol in the bounds of a charter of 934, in a manuscript of the mid-tenth century.^[12][8]
• s. x² – of hole hatne “hot from the hole” in a riddle of the Exeter Book.^[13][10]

Meanings

Noun

1. a hole, hollow, opening.^[10][4]
2. a cave, cavern.^[10][14]
3. the den of an animal.^[10][14]

Word family

• holian

Descendants

• Middle English hole (→ English hole; Scots hole)^[1]

hol² calumny

Pronunciation

• /xoːl/, [hoːl]^[1]

Forms

hōl n (strong a-stem; genitive singular hōles)^[1]

Etymology

The word for calumny is inherited from Proto-Germanic *hōlą (“vain speech, flattery”).^[1][15] Its cognate Old Norse hól means “praise, flattery, boasting”, and Gothic 𐌰𐍆𐌷𐍉𐌻𐍉𐌽 (afholon, “to cheat”) is a verb made from it.^[15][3]

Kroonen derives it from Proto-Indo-European *kóHl-o- and compares Ancient Greek κηλέω (kēléō, “to charm, bewitch”) and Latin calvor (“to deceive”);^[15] Holthausen adds calumnia (“slander”), and Köbler gives a root meaning to beguile or deceive (Pokorny 551).^[3][16]

Semantic evolution

It is malicious talk, evil speaking without cause.^[10] In the oath of an accuser in the laws a man swears that he brings his charge ne for hete ne for hōle, “neither from hatred nor from slander”.^[10] Wulfstan uses it in his rhyming and alliterating pairs, as in hōl and hete “slander and hatred”.^[17] Latin “calumnia” is glossed with it.^[10]

Meanings

Noun

1. calumny, slander, evil speaking.^[10][14][16]

Word family

• hōlian