ignel

Old French

Alternative forms

• isnel, esnel, inel

Etymology

Of confounded origin. The forms isnel, esnel, inel are undoubtedly related to (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old Occitan isnel and Old Italian snello, all from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Frankish *snel, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Proto-Germanic *snellaz (“bold, quick, lively”), related to Old High German snel (“warlike, lively, brisk”), See snell.

However, Old French ignel appears to be an assimilation of the former to (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Latin igneus, ignitellus (“burning, ardent”), probably through folk-etymology in the sense of "fiery". Diez admits a possible origin in Latin for ignel, but not for isnel, esnel, etc..

Adjective

ignel m (oblique and nominative feminine singular ignele)

1. swift; impetuous
2. burning; on fire

Derived terms

• ignelement