Etymology Explorer › Dutch

Where does “kapitein” come from?

kapitein (Dutch) comes from Middle Dutch capitein, from Old French capitaine, from Latin capitāneus, from Latin caput, from Proto-Italic kaput, from Proto-Indo-European káput, from Proto-Indo-European kap- — to seize, hold.

kapitein (Dutch): captain

Definitions

  1. captain

Ancestry of “kapitein”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Dutchcapitein—
2Old Frenchcapitaineleader
3Latincapitāneus—
4Latincaputhead; headlike protuberance on an organ or body...
5Proto-Italickaputhead
6Proto-Indo-Europeankáputhead
7Proto-Indo-Europeankap-to seize, hold

Words derived from “kapitein”

  • 甲必丹
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kap- →