ethel

ethel · noun, adjective¹

1. Old English · inherited fromǣþel
2. Middle English · learned borrowing fromethel
3. English todayethel

Learned borrowing from Middle English ethel, from Old English ǣþel, ēþel.

Ethel · proper noun²

Short form of names of Old English origin beginning with Ethel-, æþele (“noble”). First used in the 19th century. Cognate to the Germanic Adela and Adele.