Etymology

Always derived from ON, cp. OIcel skál 'bowl, scales' < PGmc skēlō (cp. OHG scāla 'bowl', and perh. OS skala, MDu schale). An OE cognate would be expected to show palatalization. The related OE n. scealu < PGmc *skalō represents a different Ablaut grade.  (See also scholes.)

PGmc Ancestor

*skēlō

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

skál 'bowl, scales'
(ONP skál (sb.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

Far skál, Icel skál, Norw skål, Dan skål, Sw skål

OE Cognate

cp. scealu 'shell, husk; scale of balance'

Phonological and morphological markers

absence of palatalization of */sk/

Summary category

A1a

Attestation

First cited by MED from c1230(?a1200) Ancr. (Corp-C 402), the handful of occurrences cited by MED and OED are from a variety of dial.

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

Cl 1145
 

Bibliography

MED scōle (n.1) , OED scale (n.1) , HTOED , Bj. 92, de Vries skál, Mag. skál, Orel *skēlō, Kroonen skēlō, AEW scealu