kerel

Forms

kerel m (plural kerels, diminutive kereltje n)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch kerel (also kerle, caerl), inherited from Old Dutch karl, inherited from Proto-Germanic *kerla-.^[2][3][4] The same word is Middle Low German kerle (“freeman not of knightly rank”), from which Middle High German kerl and modern German Kerl were borrowed, Old Frisian tzerl (“servant”) and Old English ceorl (“man, husband; freeman of low birth”) (modern English churl).^[2][4] An ablaut form *karla- gave Old High German karal (“man, husband”) and Old Norse karl (“man, old man”), and probably Finnish karilas (“old man”), an early loan from North Germanic.^[2][4] The name Karel is often explained from the Old High German word, but may go back to a Latinised Germanic name with /h/.^[2] De Vries and Franck–Van Wijk explain the ⟨e⟩ of the modern form as lengthened /ë/ from an eastern dialect.^[5][6]

The word is possibly related to Ancient Greek γέρων (gérōn, “old man”) and Old Armenian ծեր (cer, “old man”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵerh₂- (“to grow up, ripen, grow old”), the root of koren.^[2][5][4] The EWN notes that this leaves the suffix and the ablaut unexplained, and that the sense “old man”, which would support the link, is mainly North Germanic and so probably not original.^[2] Kroonen derives the Germanic forms from a stem in /l/ with ablaut of the root, *ǵérh₂-ōl.^[4] Bjorvand and Lindeman instead connect it with kern.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The word first appears in the Old Dutch place name Karlebroc (1191), now Callebroucq in Hainaut.^[3] As a common noun Middle Dutch kerle is first recorded in 1271–1272 in Mechelen, meaning “freeman of low birth”: dese kerlen nemen minen here al sijn recht “these freemen take from my lord all his due”.^[2][7][8]

Semantic evolution

In Middle Dutch kerel usually meant a freeman not of knightly rank, a peasant or villager, and already carried a note of contempt.^[9][5] It could also mean simply “man” (die carel out “the old man”, 1285), and by 1350–1400 “rough, uncouth man”.^[2] Kiliaan (1588, 1599) gives it as “strong, tall, big-bodied man” and as “husband”, the senses that lead to the modern word.^[10][9]

Modern kerel is a man seen as vigorous and strong, and in popular speech a husband or lover.^[10][11] Phrases include een kerel als een boom “a giant of a man” (1782) and een kerel als Kas, said jokingly to a small boy, which Stoett also finds with the names Kasjen, Karsten and Cats.^[10][11][12] Afrikaans kêrel continues the word, South African English kerel comes from it through Afrikaans, and Sranan Tongo has kel.^[1][13]

Timeline

• 1191 – The Old Dutch place name Karlebroc is recorded.^[3]
• 1271–1272 – Middle Dutch kerle “freeman of low birth” is first recorded, in Mechelen.^[2][7][8]
• 1285 – Die carel out “the old man” is recorded.^[2]
• 1350–1400 – Keerel grof “a coarse fellow” is set against edel “noble”.^[2]
• 1599 – Kiliaan gives kaerle, keerle in the sense “husband”.^[10]
• 1782 – Een kaerel als een boom is recorded.^[10]

Meanings

Noun

1. (informal) A man, a fellow, bloke, especially a big, sturdy one.^[11][10][1]
2. (informal) A husband or boyfriend.^[11][10]

Word family

• jongkerel
• boerenkerel

Related words

• Karel
• English churl
• German Kerl

Usage notes

A different word kerel (Middle Dutch kerle, keerle) named a long overgarment worn by men and women, also as an official's gown; it survives in West Flemish compounds such as slaapkerel “nightgown”.^[9][10][14] Its origin is unknown, and the Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek leaves open whether it is the same word as kerel “man”.^[10][9][14]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Philippa, Marlies; Debrabandere, Frans; Quak, Arend; Schoonheim, Tanneke; Sijs, Nicoline van der (2003–2009), Etymologisch woordenboek van het Nederlands, 4 vols., Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press; online via etymologiebank.nl
3. ^ a b c Oudnederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; gtb.ivdnt.org
4. ^ a b c d e Kroonen, Guus (2013), Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Germanic, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 11, Leiden / Boston: Brill
5. ^ a b c Vries, Jan de (1971), Nederlands etymologisch woordenboek, Leiden: Brill
6. ^ Franck, Johannes; Wijk, Nicolaas van (1912), Franck's Etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal, 2nd ed., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff
7. ^ a b Pijnenburg, W. J. J., et al. (2001), Vroegmiddelnederlands woordenboek: woordenboek van het Nederlands van de dertiende eeuw in hoofdzaak op basis van het Corpus-Gysseling, Leiden: Instituut voor Nederlandse Lexicologie; gtb.ivdnt.org
8. ^ a b Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
9. ^ a b c d Verwijs, Eelco; Verdam, Jacob (1885–1929), Middelnederlandsch woordenboek, 11 vols., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff; gtb.ivdnt.org
10. ^ a b c d e f g h i Vries, Matthias de; Winkel, L. A. te, et al. (1882–1998), Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal, 29 vols., 's-Gravenhage / Leiden: Nijhoff / Sijthoff / SDU; supplement 2001; gtb.ivdnt.org
11. ^ a b c d Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
12. ^ Stoett, F. A. (1923–1925), Nederlandsche spreekwoorden, spreekwijzen, uitdrukkingen en gezegden, 4th ed., 3 vols., Zutphen: Thieme
13. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
14. ^ a b Debrabandere, Frans (2002), West-Vlaams etymologisch woordenboek: de herkomst van de West-Vlaamse woorden, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Atlas