Where does “crucifix” come from?

Crucifix comes from Old French crocefis, from Latin crucifixus, a past participle of crucifigere formed from Latin crux meaning cross, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European sek- meaning to cut or sever.

crucifix (English): A wooden cross used for crucifixions, as by the...

Definitions

  1. A wooden cross used for crucifixions, as by the...

Ancestry of “crucifix”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishcrucifixChrist on the cross
2Old Frenchcrocefiscrucifix
3Latincrucifixuscrucified
4LatincrucifigoI crucify, fix on a cross
5Latincruxwooden frame on which criminals were crucified,...
6Proto-Italic*kruks—
7Proto-Indo-Europeansḱer-to caw, crow

Words derived from “crucifix”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European sḱer- →Every word from Proto-Italic *kruks →Every word from Latin crux →