Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *sker-, *ker-, *kr̥- ‎(“to turn, to bend”), changed to Proto-Baltic *krei-, with a suffix -r, giving rise to an adjective *kreiras > *kreilas (compare archaic adjective krails ‎(“bent, crooked”)) and a noun *kreiris. The meaning evolved from “bent, crooked” to “not strong, clumsy, weaker, less good,” hence “left (hand),” as opposed to the “good,” “able” right hand, and then to “left-hander.” Cognates include Lithuanian kairỹs ‎(“left-hander”) ( < *krairys).^[1]

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [kɾēīlis]