shamble

The story

1. Latin · derived fromscamellum
2. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*skamulaz
3. Proto-West Germanic · inherited from*skamul
4. Old English · inherited fromsċeamol
5. Middle English · inherited fromschambyll
6. English todayshamble

From Middle English schambyll, shamyll, schamel, from Old English sċeamol, scamol (“bench, stool”), from Proto-West Germanic *skamul, *skamil, from Proto-Germanic *skamulaz, *skamilaz, from Latin scamellum, a variant of scabellum (“footstool”). Cognate with West Frisian skammel (“shamble, trestle, stool", also (in the plural) "legs, especially when showing defects or deformities”), Dutch schemel (“footstool, bench”), German Schemel (“stool”), Danish skammel (“stool”). Icelandic skemill (“footstool”). Doublet of scabellum. The verb is probably derived from the adjective, itself from attributive use of the noun. Compare West Frisian skammelje (“to walk with a swaying gait, especially on deformed legs”).

Words from the same roots