An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Thal

by Friedrich Kluge

Thal, n., ‘valley,’ from the equiv. MidHG. and OHG. tal, m. and n.; corresponding to Goth., OSax., and Du. dal, AS. dœl, E. dale (to which E. dell is allied), OIc. dalr, ‘valley.’ From the same Aryan root dhō̆, ‘to lie low,’ is derived AS. dęne, dęnu, ‘valley.’ In the non-Teut. group, Gr. θόλος, ‘dome-shaped roof, rotunda’ (lit. ‘deepening, excavation’?) is regarded as cognate; OSlov. dolŭ, ‘valley,’ is certainly allied. —