ignel

Old French

Alternative forms

isnel, esnel, inel

Etymology

Of confounded origin. The forms isnel, esnel, inel are undoubtedly related to Old Occitan isnel and Old Italian snello, all from Frankish *snel, from 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 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.. ^[1]^[2]

Adjective

ignel m (oblique and nominative feminine singular ignele)

swift; impetuous
burning; on fire

Derived terms

ignelement

References

^ Palmer, Folk-etymology: a dictionary of verbal corruptions or words perverted in form or meaning, by false derivation or mistaken analogy, ignel.
^ Alban, Paris, Atkinson, Vie de Seint Auban: a poem in Norman-French, Ignel.

[1] Palmer, Folk-etymology: a dictionary of verbal corruptions or words perverted in form or meaning, by false derivation or mistaken analogy, ignel.

[2] Alban, Paris, Atkinson, Vie de Seint Auban: a poem in Norman-French, Ignel.

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