Neuter

Regal

Meaning

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a rack of shelves, shelving, a shelf (in this collective sense), e.g. an open bookcase

Frequency

Basel-Landschaft

schaft

Data provided by: Deutsch-Schweizerdeutsches Wörterbuch

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ʁeˈɡaːl/

Cognate with Dutch

Borrowed from Latin

In summary

Early 17th century, of unclear origin. Hypotheses include: * Derived from Proto-Germanic *rigǭ ~ *rīgǭ ~ *rīhǭ, whence German Riege and Reihe (both originally “row, line”). * Derived from Latin rēgula, whence German Riegel (“bar, latch”), Dutch richel (“bar, latch”, dialectally also “rack”). In both of the above cases the derivative must have been influenced by Latin or Romance. Earlier Low German Riole (“shelving”) points to confluence with a word for “drainage, sewer” (Dutch riool, Middle Low German reōle), which may ultimately be from the same sources as above. Another theory conjectures an Italian *rigale, derived from riga (“line”) by analogy with scaffale (from scaffa). Finally, formal influence by etymology 2 below is possible.