Where does “mastiff” come from?
Mastiff derives from Middle English mastyf, from Old French mastin, from Vulgar Latin mans'tinus, from Latin mansuetus meaning "tame," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European man- and dʰeh₁-.
mastiff (English): One of an old breed of powerful, deep-chested,...
Definitions
- One of an old breed of powerful, deep-chested,...
Ancestry of “mastiff”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | mastif | Alternative form of mastyf |
| 2 | Old French | mastin | guard dog |
| 3 | Latin | mansuetīnus | — |
| 4 | Latin | mānsuētus | tamed, tame |
| 5 | Latin | mansuēscō | to tame, render mild, gentle, or peaceable |
| 6 | Latin | manus | hand; bravery, valor; violence, fighting |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | manus | hand |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | man- | human being; man; hand |