Where does “underlieutenant” come from?

underlieutenant (English) comes from English Lieutenant, from Middle French lieutenant, from Middle French lieu, from Old French leu, from Latin locus, from Old Latin stlocus, from Proto-Italic stlokos, from Proto-Indo-European stel- — to put, to place; to locate.

underlieutenant (English): A subordinate lieutenant

Definitions

  1. A subordinate lieutenant

Ancestry of “underlieutenant”, step by step

underlieutenant traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Lieutenant

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishLieutenantAlternative letter-case form of lieutenant
2Middle Frenchlieutenantlieutenant person who executes the plans and directives of another
3Middle Frenchlieuplace
4Old Frenchleuwolf; place
5Latinlocusplace, spot; a passage of literature; "in the...
6Old Latinstlocus
7Proto-Italicstlokos
8Proto-Indo-Europeanstel-to put, to place; to locate

via English under

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishunderIn or at a lower level than; As a subject of;...
2Middle Englishunderunder
3Old Englishunderunder, beneath
4Proto-Germanicunderamong, between; under, beneath; under
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁entérbetween
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁enin; in, inside
Every word from Proto-Indo-European stel-Every word from Proto-Italic stlokosEvery word from Old Latin stlocus
underlieutenant — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer