Where does “forceps” come from?

Forceps comes from Latin forceps, from Proto-Italic formokaps, from Proto-Italic xʷormokaps, of unknown ultimate origin.

forceps (English): An instrument used in surgery or medical...

Definitions

  1. An instrument used in surgery or medical...

Ancestry of “forceps”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinforcepstongs, pincers, forceps
2Latin-ceps-headed; -fold; -catcher
3Old Latin-cipes"third declension"; Alternative form of -ceps;...
4Proto-Italic-kaputis-headed
5Proto-Italickaputhead
6Proto-Indo-Europeankáputhead
7Proto-Indo-Europeankap-to seize, hold

Words derived from “forceps

Every word from Proto-Indo-European kap-Every word from Proto-Indo-European káputEvery word from Proto-Italic kaput