Beil

See also: béil

German

Etymology

From Middle High German bīl, bīhel, from Old High German bīhal (whence also Bavarian Beichl), attested (in the form witubil) since the 8th century.

Conflated early on with Proto-Germanic *bilją and its descendants (German Bille). (Kluge mentioned that, in his day, a relationship to Bicke / Middle High German bicke (“pickaxe”) — compare Old English becca (“pickaxe”) — could not be ruled out.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /baɪ̯l/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aɪ̯l

Noun

Beil n (genitive Beiles, plural Beile, diminutive Beilchen n)

1. axe, hatchet

Derived terms

• Kriegsbeil

Further reading

• “Beil” in Duden online

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Pennsylvania German

Etymology

From Middle High German bīl, bīhel, from Old High German bīhal. Compare German Beil, Dutch bijl.

Noun

Beil n (plural Beile)

1. hatchet