Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Cos” come from?

Cos derives from Ancient Greek Κῶς, which comes from Proto-Semitic kôs, a word of uncertain meaning whose original sense remains unknown.

Ancestry of “Cos”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcoClipping of company; they; them
2EnglishcompanyA team; a group of people who work together...
3Middle EnglishcompanyeA company, band, small group, or team of people;...
4Old Frenchcompaigniecompanionship
5Old FrenchcompainAlternative form of compaing; friend; companion
6Latincompāniō—
7Latincom-allomorph of con-
8Latincon-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing...
9Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
10Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
11Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
12Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
13Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
14Middle Englishkyt—
15Germankitt—
16Old High Germankuti—
17Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
18Proto-Germanickweduzresin
19Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷet- →