Where does “cap” come from?

cap (Chinese) comes from English capacitor, from English capacity, from Middle English capacite, from Old French capacite, from Latin capācitās, from Latin capāx, from Latin -āx, from Latin -ium — Creates adjectives from noun or verb stems.

cap (Chinese): upper limit; upper bound

Definitions

  1. upper limit; upper bound

Ancestry of “cap”, step by step

cap traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English capacitor

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcapacitorAn electronic component capable of storing...
2EnglishcapacityThe ability to hold, receive or absorb; A measure...
3Middle EnglishcapaciteAbility, competence, capableness; the degree to...
4Old Frenchcapacite
5Latincapācitāscapability; capacity
6LatincapāxThat can contain or hold much; wide, large, spacious, capacious, roomy
7Latin-āxish, -y
8Latin-iumSuffix used to form abstract nouns, sometimes...
9Latin-iusforming adjectives from nouns; nominative neuter...
10Proto-Italic-jōsForms comparative adjectives
11Proto-Indo-European-yósCreates adjectives from noun or verb stems

via English Cap

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishCapA nickname for the captain of a team, ship, etc
2EnglishCapricornSomeone with a Capricorn star sign
3FrenchCapricorneCapricorn
4LatinCapricornusCapricornus, the constellation of the zodiac
5Latincapera male goat, billy goat; vocative singular of...
6Proto-Italic*kaproshe-goat
7Proto-Indo-Europeankáproshe-goat, billy goat
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -yós