Where does “caput” come from?

Caput comes from Latin caput, traced through Proto-Indo-European kauput- and ultimately to Proto-Indo-European kapōlo, meaning head.

caput (English): The head; A knob-like protuberance or capitulum;...

Definitions

  1. The head; A knob-like protuberance or capitulum;...

Ancestry of “caput”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latincaputhead; headlike protuberance on an organ or body...
2Proto-Italickaputhead
3Proto-Indo-Europeankáputhead
4Proto-Indo-Europeankap-to seize, hold
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kap- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European káput →Every word from Proto-Italic kaput →