[Middle English felau, from Old English folaga, from Old Norse flagi, business partner, fellow, from flag, partnership : f, property, money; see peku- in Indo-European roots + lag, a laying down; see legh- in Indo-European roots.] Word History: A jolly good fellow might or might not be the ideal business associate, but the ancestor of our word fellow definitely referred to a business partner. Fellow was borrowed into English from Old Norse flagi, meaning "a partner or shareholder of any kind." Old Norse flagi is derived from flag, "partnership," a compound made up of f, "livestock, property, money," and lag, "a laying in order" and "fellowship." The notion of putting one's property together lies behind the senses of flagi meaning "partner" and "consort." In Old Icelandic flagi also had the general sense "fellow, mate, comrade," which fellow has as well, indicating perhaps that most partnerships turned out all right for speakers of Old Icelandic.
[Middle English felau, from Old English folaga, from Old Norse flagi, business partner, fellow, from flag, partnership : f, property, money; see peku- in Indo-European roots + lag, a laying down; see legh- in Indo-European roots.]
BeantwoordenVerwijderenWord History: A jolly good fellow might or might not be the ideal business associate, but the ancestor of our word fellow definitely referred to a business partner. Fellow was borrowed into English from Old Norse flagi, meaning "a partner or shareholder of any kind." Old Norse flagi is derived from flag, "partnership," a compound made up of f, "livestock, property, money," and lag, "a laying in order" and "fellowship." The notion of putting one's property together lies behind the senses of flagi meaning "partner" and "consort." In Old Icelandic flagi also had the general sense "fellow, mate, comrade," which fellow has as well, indicating perhaps that most partnerships turned out all right for speakers of Old Icelandic.
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