Where does “cul-de-sac” come from?
cul-de-sac (English) comes from French cul-de-sac, from French cul, from Middle French cul, from Old French cul, from Latin cūlus, from Proto-Celtic kūlos, from Proto-Indo-European ḱuH-ló-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kewH- — to cover, bedeck; cover.
cul-de-sac (English): A blind alley or dead end street; A circular area...
Definitions
- A blind alley or dead end street; A circular area...
Ancestry of “cul-de-sac”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | French | cul-de-sac | dead end, cul-de-sac; impasse |
| 2 | French | cul | butt, bum, ass, arse; anus; arsehole; asshole;... |
| 3 | Middle French | cul | arse; ass; anus |
| 4 | Old French | cul | bottom; the buttock |
| 5 | Latin | cūlus | — |
| 6 | Proto-Celtic | kūlos | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱuH-ló- | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)kewH- | to cover, bedeck; cover |