Eiher a O-grade substantive form Proto-Albanian*dol-t-eH2 (cf. natë < *nogʷ-t-eh₂, baltë < *bʰol-t-eh₂ etc.), or from Proto-Albanian*dalbtā, from Proto-Indo-European*dʰelbʰ-(“to dig”). Compare English delve, Dutch delven. Related to or borrowed into Romanian daltă. Cognate to Bulgarian длато́(dlató), Czech dláto.