Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-der. Proto-Germanic *balluz Old English *beall Middle English bal? Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- Proto-Indo-European *bʰḗlH-o-m Proto-Germanic *bēlą Proto-West Germanic *bāl Old English bæl? Middle English balled English bald Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English baldy From bald + -y.