Where does “tussenpaus” come from?

tussenpaus (Dutch) comes from Dutch paus, from Middle Dutch paus, from Old French papes, from Latin papa, from Ancient Greek παπᾶς, from Old Norse súla, from Proto-Germanic sūliz, from Proto-Indo-European ḱsewl- — to scrape, shave, sharpen.

tussenpaus (Dutch): an 'intermediary' pope, whose pontificate (term of office) is so short or uneventful he's rarely mentioned except in lists of popes

Definitions

  1. an 'intermediary' pope, whose pontificate (term of office) is so short or uneventful he's rarely mentioned except in lists of popes

Ancestry of “tussenpaus”, step by step

tussenpaus traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Dutch paus

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchpauspope
2Middle Dutchpaus
3Old Frenchpapes
4Latinpapaan infant's cry for food; father; bishop
5Ancient Greekπαπᾶςpriest
6Old Norsesúlapillar, column
7Proto-Germanicsūlizbeam, post; column, pillar
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱsewl-
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱsew-to scrape, shave, sharpen

via Dutch tussen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchtussenbetween; among, amidst
2Middle Dutchtwisschen
3Old Dutchintwiskan
4Proto-Germanictwiskaztwofold, double
5Proto-Indo-Europeandwístwice, doubly; in two
6Proto-Indo-Europeandwóh₁two
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱsew-
tussenpaus — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer