Welter
/ˈwɛl.tər/noun
To roll, toss, or wallow about, or to exist in a confused and disorderly mass.
Did you know?Welter is historically connected to the same ancient “turning and rolling” family that produced words such as “wallow” and Latin-derived “revolve.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wel-
“To turn, roll, or revolve; a reconstructed root rather than a directly recorded word.”
Old English
Old English
wealtian
“To roll or turn about.”
Middle English
Middle English
welteren
“To roll, toss, or wallow around.”
14th Century
English
welter
“To roll or move about in confusion.”
17th Century
English
welter
“A confused, turbulent mass or condition.”
Modern English
English
welter
“To wallow or be immersed in disorder, turmoil, or a confused mass.”