The Proto-Germanic word for "wolf" was "wulfaz", which evolved into "wulf" in Old English. This word is believed to be related to other Indo-European words for wolf, suggesting a common origin for the term.
The exact reason why this specific word was chosen to describe these animals is unknown. However, some theories exist:
* Sound imitation: The sound "w" could have been chosen to represent the howl of a wolf, similar to how the word "woof" imitates a dog's bark.
* Descriptive meaning: The word "wulf" might have originally meant something like "greedy" or "ravenous" due to the wolf's reputation as a predator.
Ultimately, the exact origin of the word "wolf" is lost to time, but it's a fascinating example of how language changes and evolves over centuries.