Where does “larceny” come from?
Larceny comes from Anglo-Norman larcin, from Latin latrocinium meaning theft, derived from latro meaning mercenary or brigand, ultimately from Ancient Greek λάτρον.
larceny (English): The unlawful taking of personal property as an...
Definitions
- The unlawful taking of personal property as an...
Ancestry of “larceny”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anglo-Norman | larcin | theft |
| 2 | Latin | latrocinium | Military service for pay; Robbery, banditry,... |
| 3 | Latin | latrocinor | I rob on the highway; I fight for pay |
| 4 | Latin | -cinor | — |
| 5 | Latin | canō | to sing, recite, play |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | kanō | to sing |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | kanô | vessel, vat, tub; boat |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | gan- | a vessel, tub; a vessel, vat, tub |