Where does “seneschal” come from?
Seneschal comes from Middle English seneschal, from Old French seneschal, from Medieval Latin siniscalcus, from Frankish siniskalk, a compound of Proto-Indo-European sénos meaning old and (s)kel- meaning to serve.
seneschal (English): A steward, particularly one in charge of a...
Definitions
- A steward, particularly one in charge of a...
Ancestry of “seneschal”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | seneschal | A steward in charge of a nobleman's estate; A... |
| 2 | Old French | seneschal | seneschal |
| 3 | Medieval Latin | siniscalcus | seneschal, steward, mayordomo |
| 4 | Frankish | siniskalk | seneschal |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | siniskalkaz | — |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | skalkaz | servant |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)kelH- | to cut; to split, to separate |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)kel- | to bend, crook; bent, crooked; leg, heel, knee,... |
Words derived from “seneschal”