Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “louis” come from?

Louis is an English word derived from French louis, which comes from Middle French Loïs, ultimately from Latin Ludovicus, a Latinized form of the Germanic name Clodovicus, rooted in Proto-Indo-European ḱlew-.

louis (English): Any gold or silver coin issued by the French...

Definitions

  1. Any gold or silver coin issued by the French...

Ancestry of “louis”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1FrenchlouisA louis: various gold and silver coins issued by...
2Middle FrenchLoïs—
3Old FrenchLooïs—
4LatinLudovīcus—
5Old High GermanHlūtwīg—
6Proto-West GermanicHlūdawīg—
7Proto-West Germanichlūdloud; sound
8Proto-Germanichlūdazloud; famous
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱlewtosheard, famous
10Proto-Indo-Europeanḱlew-to hear
11Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- →