Gammel
/ˈɡaməl/noun
A Scandinavian adjective meaning old, especially in Danish and Norwegian.
Did you know?Gammel is related to the English word “old” only in meaning, not by proven ancestry; its deeper Germanic origin remains uncertain.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
Proto-Germanic
*gamala-
“Old or aged; the reconstructed ancestor of the Scandinavian form”
Viking Age
Old Norse
gamall
“Old, aged, or long-standing”
Medieval Period
Old Danish
gamel
“Old; an older person or thing”
Modern Danish
Danish
gammel
“Old; aged or former”
Modern Norwegian
Norwegian
gammel
“Old, aged, or traditional”