Where does “camouflage” come from?
Camouflage derives from French camouflage, from French camoufler, from French camouflet, from Italian camuffare, ultimately from Latin caput meaning head.
camouflage (English): A disguise or covering up; The act of disguising;...
Definitions
- A disguise or covering up; The act of disguising;...
Ancestry of “camouflage”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | camouflage | camouflage |
| 2 | French | camoufler | to camouflage |
| 3 | French | camouflet | snub, affront; camouflet |
| 4 | Italian | camuffare | To disguise; To hide |
| 5 | Italian | muffare | to become mouldy |
| 6 | Medieval Latin | muffula | a muff; muff |
| 7 | Frankish | molfell | soft garment made of hide |
| 8 | Middle High German | mol | — |
| 9 | Old High German | mol | — |
| 10 | Proto-Germanic | mulô | muzzle |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | molh₂-o- | — |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | melh₂- | to grind, to crush |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | mel- | soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub |
| 14 | Proto-Indo-European | mey- | to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange |