Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “carfax” come from?

carfax (English) comes from Middle English carfukes, from Latin quādrifurcus, from Latin quattŭor, from Portuguese quarto, from Old Portuguese quarto, from Latin quārtus, from Proto-Indo-European kʷeturtos, from Proto-Indo-European kʷetwóres — and.

carfax (English): A junction of four roads; The main intersection...

Definitions

  1. A junction of four roads; The main intersection...

Ancestry of “carfax”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishcarfukes—
2Latinquādrifurcus—
3Latinquattŭor—
4Portuguesequartoordinal form of quatro; fourth; quarter; fourth;...
5Old Portuguesequartoquarter
6Latinquārtus—
7Proto-Indo-Europeankʷeturtos—
8Proto-Indo-Europeankʷetwóresfour
9Proto-Indo-Europeankʷe-and
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷe- →