Where does “Major” come from?
Major (English) comes from Middle English major, from Latin māior, from Latin magnus, from Proto-Indo-European meǵh₂- — big, great; great; big, stour, great.
Major (English): Title for an army officer with the rank of major
Definitions
- Title for an army officer with the rank of major
Ancestry of “Major”, step by step
Major traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English major
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | major | — |
| 2 | Latin | māior | ancestors, forefathers; advanced in years, the aged; the elders |
| 3 | Latin | magnus | large, big; great; important |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | meǵh₂- | big, great; great; big, stour, great |
via Latin major
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | major | Alternative form of maior; greater |