Latinaquilaoften is explained as "the dark bird;" compareaquilus"blackish, swarthy, of the color of darkness," but some suggest the color word is from the bird. De Vaan writes, "It is possible that 'eagle' was derived fromaquilus'dark' when this had received its colour meaning. It may...
(especially intosprædan"to spread out," andgesprædung"spreading"), from Proto-Germanic*spreit-(source also of Danishsprede, Old Swedishspreda, Middle Dutchspreiden, Old High German and Germanspreiten"to spread"), according to Watkins from an extended form of PIE root*sper-(4) "to...