Where does “backset” come from?

backset (English) comes from English back, from French bac, from French baccalauréat, from Medieval Latin baccalaureatus, from Latin baccalaureus, from Latin laurea, from Latin laurus, from English -aceous — Creates adjectives from noun or verb stems.

backset (English): A check; a relapse; a discouragement; a setback;...

Definitions

  1. A check; a relapse; a discouragement; a setback;...

Ancestry of “backset”, step by step

backset traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English back

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbackNear the rear; Not current; Far from the main...
2Frenchbacferry; vat; high school exit exam in France; A...
3Frenchbaccalauréatbaccalaureat; bachelor's degree
4Medieval Latinbaccalaureatusbachelor's degree
5Latinbaccalaureusbachelor
6Latinlaurealaurel, bay tree; crown, wreath or branch of...
7Latinlauruslaurel tree; laurels; a crown of laurel
8English-aceousOf, relating to, resembling or containing the...
9Latin-āceusaceous; resembling, having the nature of, forming, belonging to
10Latin-āxish, -y
11Latin-iumSuffix used to form abstract nouns, sometimes...
12Latin-iusforming adjectives from nouns; nominative neuter...
13Proto-Italic-jōsForms comparative adjectives
14Proto-Indo-European-yósCreates adjectives from noun or verb stems

via English seṭ

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishseṭof a root, having a final "i" sound in certain...
2EnglishseptA clan, tribe, or family, proceeding from a...
3EnglishsectAn offshoot of a larger religion; a group sharing...
4Middle EnglishsecteA variety or sort; a category with a...
5Old Frenchsectea sect in philosophy or religion
6Late Latinsectaa sect in philosophy or religion, a school,...
7Latinsequipresent active infinitive of sequor; follow, come...
8LatinsequorI follow, come or go after
9Proto-Italicsekʷōrfollow, come/go after
10Proto-Indo-Europeansékʷetorto be following
11Proto-Indo-Europeansekʷ-to follow; to see; to say
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -yósEvery word from Latin -iumEvery word from Latin -ius
backset — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer