Where does “салфетка” come from?

салфетка (Bulgarian) comes from Russian салфе́тка, from German Salvette, from Italian salvietta, from French serviette, from French servir, from German servieren, from Italian servire, from Spanish servir — to flow; to guard; to bind, to tie together.

салфетка (Bulgarian): table napkin, serviette usually, but not exclusively paper

Definitions

  1. table napkin, serviette usually, but not exclusively paper

Ancestry of “салфетка”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianсалфе́ткаnapkin, serviette
2GermanSalvette
3Italiansalviettaserviette, napkin
4Frenchserviettetowel; napkin; briefcase
5Frenchservirto serve; to be used for; to be useful for...
6Germanservierento serve (food); to wait (at table)
7Italianservireto serve; to need; to plate
8Spanishservirto serve; to be of use, to be good for; to help...
9Latinserviōto be a slave to; to serve
10Latinservusa servant; a serf; a slave
11Proto-Italicserwosguardian
12Proto-Indo-Europeanser-wo-sguardian
13Proto-Indo-Europeanser-to flow; to guard; to bind, to tie together
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ser-Every word from Proto-Indo-European ser-wo-sEvery word from Proto-Italic serwos