Where does “kopstuk” come from?

kopstuk (Dutch) comes from Dutch stuk, from Middle Dutch stucke, from Old Dutch stukki, from Proto-West Germanic stukkī, from Proto-Germanic stukkiją, from Proto-Indo-European (s)tewg-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)tew- — to push, to hit.

kopstuk (Dutch): chief, leader; protagonist

Definitions

  1. chief, leader; protagonist

Ancestry of “kopstuk”, step by step

kopstuk traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Dutch stuk

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1DutchstukA piece, part, share; A theatrical piece, play,...
2Middle Dutchstucke—
3Old Dutchstukki—
4Proto-West Germanicstukkīpiece
5Proto-Germanicstukkijąstump; piece
6Proto-Indo-European(s)tewg-to push, to hit
7Proto-Indo-European(s)tew-to push, to hit

via Dutch kop

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchkopcup; head; a human
2Middle Dutchcop—
3Latincūppadrinking vessel
4Latincūpatub, cask, tun, vat
5Ancient Greekκώπηa handle
6Proto-Indo-Europeankóh₂p-eh₂—
7Proto-Indo-Europeankeh₂p-to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)tew- →