Where does “capitan” come from?

capitan (English) comes from Spanish capitán, from Latin capitāneus, from Latin caput, from Proto-Italic kaput, from Proto-Indo-European káput, from Proto-Indo-European kap- — to seize, hold.

capitan (English): The chief admiral of the Turkish fleet

Definitions

  1. The chief admiral of the Turkish fleet

Ancestry of “capitan”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Spanishcapitáncaptain
2Latincapitāneuslarge, chief in size
3Latincaputhead; headlike protuberance on an organ or body...
4Proto-Italickaputhead
5Proto-Indo-Europeankáputhead
6Proto-Indo-Europeankap-to seize, hold
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kap- →