fellow

fellow · noun¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*legʰ-“to lie down”
2. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*peḱ-“livestock; wealth”
3. Old Norse · derived fromfélagi
4. Old English · inherited fromfēolaga
5. Middle English · inherited fromfelawe, felowe“companion, good friend”
6. English todayfellow

From Middle English felawe, felowe (“companion, good friend”) from Old English fēolaga, from Old Norse félagi, derived from félag (“joint venture; partnership”, literally “a laying together of property”), from fé (“livestock, property; money”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *peḱ- (“livestock; wealth”)) + lag (“something laid down; right position; arrangement; companionship, fellowship; partnership”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *legʰ- (“to lie down”)). Cognates * Old Norse filaga, felaka (“partner”, accusative singular), from which the other terms are derived: * Danish fælle (“companion”) * Faroese felagi (“member; partner”) * Icelandic félagi (“companion, comrade, fellow; member; partner”) * Norwegian felle (“companion”) * Old Swedish fälaghi (modern Swedish felaga, felaha (“partner”, accusative singular)) * Scots falow, fallow, follow (“associate, companion, comrade”)

fellow · verb²

1. Middle English · inherited fromfelauen
2. English todayfellow

From Middle English felauen, felow (“to join (someone) in companionship, friendship, partnership, etc.”) [and other forms], from felowe, felau, felawe (noun): see etymology 1.

Words from the same roots