Where does “cuckoldry” come from?
cuckoldry (English) comes from English cuckold, from Middle English cokolde, from Old French cucuault, from Frankish -wald, from Frankish wald, from Proto-Germanic waldaz, from Proto-Germanic waldaną, from Proto-Indo-European waldʰ- — to be strong, be powerful, prevail, possess.
cuckoldry (English): An act of adultery committed by a married woman...
Definitions
- An act of adultery committed by a married woman...
Ancestry of “cuckoldry”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | cuckold | A man married to an unfaithful wife, especially... |
| 2 | Middle English | cokolde | — |
| 3 | Old French | cucuault | a cuckold |
| 4 | Frankish | -wald | — |
| 5 | Frankish | wald | power, mastery, dominion; reigning; ruling |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | waldaz | leader |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | waldaną | to rule |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | waldʰ- | to be strong, be powerful, prevail, possess |