Etymology

Attested from mid-16th century. Via Middle Low German stevel or Danish støvle, from Italian stivale ‎(“a boot”), from Old French estival, of ultimate Latin uncertain origin; altered by association with stíga ‎(“to step”).^[1]

Belief that it derives from the Icelandic verb stíga ‎(“to step”) and vél ‎(“a machine”) similar to borvél ‎(“a drill; literally a drilling machine”), eldavél ‎(“a cooking stove; literally a cooking machine”) and þvottavél ‎(“washing machine”) is a folk etymology.^[1] This may be inferred from the fact that stígvél is a neuter noun while vél and the other compounds listed are feminine nouns.^[1]

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈstiɣ.vjɛːl/