Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “safehouse” come from?

safehouse (English) comes from English safe, from Middle English sauf, from Old French sauf, from Latin salvus, from Proto-Italic *salawos, from Proto-Indo-European solh₂wós, from Proto-Indo-European sōlh₂- — mercy, comfort; comfort, mercy.

safehouse (English): A secure location, known to only a few trusted...

Definitions

  1. A secure location, known to only a few trusted...

Ancestry of “safehouse”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsafeNot in danger; out of harm's reach; Free from...
2Middle EnglishsaufNot having experienced harm, damage, or ill...
3Old Frenchsauf—
4Latinsalvussafe, saved, preserved, sound, unharmed,...
5Proto-Italic*salawos—
6Proto-Indo-Europeansolh₂wós—
7Proto-Indo-Europeansōlh₂-mercy, comfort; comfort, mercy
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sōlh₂- →