Noel

Noel (or noël) is an alternate word for Christmas. The word comes from the French word Noël meaning "Christmas" which derives from the Old French word noël, a variant of nael. The Latin origin is the word natalis ("birth"). According to the 18th century Irish linguist and historian Charles Vallencey, a more ancient common origin appears in the Hebrew word nolad (Hebrew letters nuwn waw lamed daled), meaning "to bring forth young." Subsequently, the Irish named December Mi Nolagh,^{[citation needed]} meaning "the month of the newborn." The Irish word for Christmas day was simply Nolagh.^[1] The word nolad is used Biblically to refer to birth. Another Hebrew word nephel^[2] is used Biblically to refer to an "untimely birth."

References

1. ^ Vallencey, Charles. 1786. Collectanea de rebus hibernicis, vol. iii. p.445.
2. ^ Strong's H5307.