Where does “cross one's heart” come from?

cross one's heart (English) comes from English cross, from French croix, from German Kreuz, from Spanish Cruz, from Portuguese cruz, from Italian croce, from Latin crux, from Proto-Italic *kruks — to caw, crow.

cross one's heart (English): To attest to the truthfulness of the accompanying...

Definitions

  1. To attest to the truthfulness of the accompanying...

Ancestry of “cross one's heart”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcrossA geometrical figure consisting of two straight...
2Frenchcroixcross; a representation of a cross; the cross as...
3GermanKreuzcross; clubs; sharp
4SpanishCruzcross
5Portuguesecruzcross
6Italiancrocecross
7Latincruxwooden frame on which criminals were crucified,...
8Proto-Italic*kruks
9Proto-Indo-Europeansḱer-to caw, crow
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sḱer-Every word from Proto-Italic *kruksEvery word from Latin crux