Origin and history of vale

c. 1300, valei, "relatively low and somewhat level land between or surrounded by higher elevations," from Anglo-French valey, Old French valee "a valley" (12c.), from Latin vallis "valley," a word of unknown origin. Often the basin of a stream, hence generally "region near or drained by a river."

Valley Girl (in reference to San Fernando Valley of California) was popularized 1982 in song by U.S. rock artist Frank Zappa and his daughter. Valley of Death (Psalm xxiii.4) was rendered in Middle English as Helldale (mid-13c.).

also Parsifal, hero of medieval legends, from Old French Perceval, literally "he who breaks through the valley," from percer "to pierce, break through" (see pierce) + val "valley" (see vale).