Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “crosspiece” come from?

crosspiece (English) comes from English piece, from Middle English pece, from Old French piece, from Vulgar Latin pettia, from Latin pettia, from Gaulish pettyā, from Proto-Celtic kʷezdis — piece, portion.

crosspiece (English): A horizontal or transverse beam or similar member...

Definitions

  1. A horizontal or transverse beam or similar member...

Ancestry of “crosspiece”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpieceA part of a larger whole, usually in such a form...
2Middle Englishpecepiece; morsel; bit
3Old Frenchpiecepiece, bit, part; circa 1170, Chrétien de Troyes
4Vulgar Latinpettiapiece, portion
5Latinpettiapiece, portion
6Gaulishpettyā—
7Proto-Celtickʷezdispiece, portion
Every word from Proto-Celtic kʷezdis →