Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “mitre” come from?

Mitre comes from Middle English mytre, from Old French mitre, from Ancient Greek μίτρα, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European mey-.

mitre (English): A covering for the head, worn on solemn occasions...

Definitions

  1. A covering for the head, worn on solemn occasions...

Ancestry of “mitre”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishmytreA piece of headgear; a cap or hat
2Old Frenchmitre—
3Latinmītra—
4Ancient GreekμίτραA metal guard worn round the waist; A maiden's...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange

Words derived from “mitre”

  • mitral
  • mitred
  • transmitral
  • aortomitral
  • mitrewort
  • mitrate
  • mitriform
  • mitralic
  • unmitre
  • mitreless
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey- →