Where does “peculation” come from?

Peculation comes from Latin peculatus, the past participle of peculari, derived from peculium meaning private property or savings, which developed from pecu meaning cattle, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European peḱ- meaning to pluck or acquire.

peculation (English): The wrongful appropriation or embezzlement of...

Definitions

  1. The wrongful appropriation or embezzlement of...

Ancestry of “peculation”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinpeculatusembezzlement of public money or property,...
2LatinpeculorI defraud the public; I embezzle public funds; I...
3Latinpeculiumprivate property
4Latinpecucattle; domestic animals
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpéḱulivestock
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpeḱ-to pluck; livestock; wealth
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peḱ- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European péḱu →Every word from Latin pecu →