Where does “postkontor” come from?

postkontor (Danish) comes from Danish kontor, from Middle Low German kontōr, from Middle Dutch cantoor, from Middle French contoir, from Middle French compter, from Old French compter, from Latin computāre, from Latin computō — resin.

postkontor (Danish): post office

Definitions

  1. post office

Ancestry of “postkontor”, step by step

postkontor traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Danish kontor

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Danishkontoroffice
2Middle Low Germankontōrcommercial branch; writing room; counting desk
3Middle Dutchcantoor—
4Middle FrenchcontoirAlternative spelling of comptoir
5Middle Frenchcompterto recount; to tell
6Old Frenchcompter—
7Latincomputāre—
8Latincomputōto calculate, compute, reckon together
9Latincom-allomorph of con-
10Latincon-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing...
11Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
12Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
13Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
14Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
15Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
16Middle Englishkyt—
17Germankittputty certain kinds of cement used for fixing e.g. window panes
18Old High Germankuti—
19Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
20Proto-Germanickweduzresin

via Danish post

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Danishpostpost; post, mail; postman
2Middle Low Germanpost—
3Middle Frenchposte—
4Italianpostamail, post; post office; stakes
5Latinprobāre—
6Latinprobōto approve, permit, commend
7LatinProbusgood, serviceable, excellent, superior, able
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-bhwo-being in front, prominent
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-toward, forward
10Proto-Indo-Europeanpor-to give birth; forward, through; going, passage
11Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
12Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed
Every word from Proto-Germanic kweduz →Every word from Proto-West Germanic kwidu →Every word from Old High German kuti →