Gafl
/ˈɡɑ.vəl/noun
An Old English term meaning tribute, tax, rent, or required payment.
Did you know?Gafl is closely connected to the ancient Germanic word-family behind “give,” revealing how taxation was historically framed as something handed over to authority.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ghabʰ-
“To give or receive”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*gabula
“A payment, tribute, or tax”
Old English
OE
gafol / gafl
“Tribute, rent, tax, or compulsory payment”
Middle English
ME
gavel
“Rent, tribute, or a customary payment”
Modern English
English
gavel
“A rent or payment in historical and legal usage; later, a judge’s or auctioneer’s hammer”