An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Wels

by Friedrich Kluge

Wels, m., ‘shad’ (fish), from the equiv. late MidHG. wels. Its connection with Walfisch (stem hwalo-) is not impossible, if MidHG. wels is based on OHG. *węlis (from *hwalis-); comp. OHG. węlira, ‘whale.’