Where does “zero-proof” come from?

zero-proof (English) comes from English proof, from Middle English proof, from Old French prove, from Latin proba, from Latin probāre, from Latin probō, from Latin Probus, from Proto-Indo-European pro-bhwo- — passed , crossed.

zero-proof (English): Nonalcoholic, alcohol-free

Definitions

  1. Nonalcoholic, alcohol-free

Ancestry of “zero-proof”, step by step

zero-proof traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English proof

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishproofAn effort, process, or operation designed to...
2Middle Englishproof
3Old Frenchprove
4Latinprobatest, trial; proof, evidence
5Latinprobāre
6Latinprobōto approve, permit, commend
7LatinProbusgood, serviceable, excellent, superior, able
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-bhwo-being in front, prominent
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-toward, forward
10Proto-Indo-Europeanpor-to give birth; forward, through; going, passage
11Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
12Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

via English zero

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishzeroThe cardinal number occurring before one and that...
2Middle Frenchzero
3ItalianZerozero
4New Latinzerum
5Medieval Latinzephirumzero
6Arabicصِفْرzero, nothing, empty, void; nothing, cipher;...
7Sanskritशून्यzero; cipher, cypher; blank, deserted
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱówH-
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tósEvery word from Proto-Indo-European per-Every word from Proto-Indo-European por-