Where does “typedef” come from?

Typedef derives from English type, which comes from Middle English type, from Middle French definition, from Ancient Greek τύπος meaning "impression or mark," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European dʰeygʷ- meaning "to form or shape."

typedef (English): A statement that declares a name for a data type;...

Definitions

  1. A statement that declares a name for a data type;...

Ancestry of “typedef”, step by step

typedef traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English definition

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdefinitionA statement of the meaning of a word or word...
2Middle Englishdiffinicioun
3Middle Frenchdefinitiondefinition
4Latindēfīnītiōdefinition; precise description
5Latindēfīniōto bound, set bounds to; to limit
6Latindē-of; from
7Latinof; concerning; about
8Latinpostbehind; after, since, besides, except; behind,...
9Latinposteablative singular of postis
10Proto-Italicpostibehind, after
11Proto-Indo-Europeanpóstiafter
12Proto-Indo-Europeanpósafterwards, post; by, at

via English type

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtypeA grouping based on shared characteristics; a...
2Middle Englishtypesymbol, figure, emblem
3Latintypusfigure, image; type, form, sort, kind; form,...
4Ancient GreekτύποςA blow, pressing; The results of a blow: mark,...
5Ancient Greekτύπτωto beat, strike, smite; to beat, strike oneself
6Proto-Indo-European(s)tewp-to push, to stick
7Proto-Indo-European(s)tew-to push, to hit
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pós