Where does “capstone” come from?
Capstone comes from Middle English capston, combining Middle English cappe (a head covering or top) and Middle English stone from Old English stān, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European steh₂- meaning to stand or be placed.
capstone (English): Any of the stones making up the top layer of a...
Definitions
- Any of the stones making up the top layer of a...
Ancestry of “capstone”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | capston | capstone |
| 2 | Middle English | ston | Alternative form of stone |
| 3 | Old English | stān | stone, rock |
| 4 | Old Norse | Veggr | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | wajjuz | wall |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | wh̥₁yús | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | weh₁y- | to twist, wind, weave, plait; to wrap, enclose,... |