heil

From Middle High German heil, from Old High German heil, from Proto-West Germanic *hail, from Proto-Germanic *hailaz, from Proto-Indo-European *kéh₂ilos (“healthy, whole”). In older High German only used of the human body and soul; the modern use also of things is based on Middle Low German hêl, from Old Saxon hēl. The more general sense “whole, entire” did not establish itself in standard German (except in fixed combinations like heilfroh). Cognate with Dutch heel, Low German heel, heil, English whole, hale, Danish hel.