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 EnglishcarfukesA crossroads
2Latinquādrifurcushaving four forks, prongs, or points
3Latinquattŭorfour; 4
4Portuguesequartoordinal form of quatro; fourth; quarter; fourth;...
5Old Portuguesequartoquarter
6Latinquārtusfourth
7Proto-Indo-Europeankʷeturtos
8Proto-Indo-Europeankʷetwóresfour
9Proto-Indo-Europeankʷe-and
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷe-Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷetwóresEvery word from Proto-Indo-European kʷeturtos