Where does “keycap” come from?

keycap (English) comes from English Cap, from English Capricorn, from French Capricorne, from Latin Capricornus, from Latin caper, from Proto-Italic *kapros, from Proto-Indo-European kápros — he-goat, billy goat.

keycap (English): The part of a key that is pressed by the user,...

Definitions

  1. The part of a key that is pressed by the user,...

Ancestry of “keycap”, step by step

keycap traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Cap

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishCapA nickname for the captain of a team, ship, etc
2EnglishCapricornSomeone with a Capricorn star sign
3FrenchCapricorneCapricorn
4LatinCapricornusCapricornus, the constellation of the zodiac
5Latincapera male goat, billy goat; vocative singular of...
6Proto-Italic*kaproshe-goat
7Proto-Indo-Europeankáproshe-goat, billy goat

via English key

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishkeyAn object designed to open and close a lock; An...
2EnglishcayA small, low island largely made of sand or coral
3SpanishCayokey island
4Taínocayosmall island
Every word from Proto-Indo-European káprosEvery word from Proto-Italic *kaprosEvery word from Latin caper