Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cos” come from?

Cos is a shortening of English because, which derives from Middle English bi cause, combining Middle English bi (from Old English bī, from Latin causa meaning reason or cause) with cause.

cos (English): A variety of lettuce with long, crisp leaves;...

Definitions

  1. A variety of lettuce with long, crisp leaves;...

Ancestry of “cos”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1English'causeAphetic form of because
2EnglishbecauseFor the reason; On account , for sake; By or for...
3Middle Englishbi cause—
4Middle Englishbiby
5Old Englishbīlullaby!; near, by; by, near, around
6Proto-West Germanicbīby, at; near, around
7Proto-Germanicbiby, at; near, around
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂m̥bʰiaround, on either side of, about; in exchange...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂n̥tbʰi—
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éntsforehead; front
11Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ent-face; forehead; front
12Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂en-on, onto

Words derived from “cos”

  • arccos
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂en- →