Where does “état-major” come from?

état-major (French) comes from French État, from Old French estat, from Latin stātus, from Latin stō, from Proto-Italic staēō, from Proto-Indo-European sth₂éh₁yeti, from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂-.

état-major (French): general staff, headquarters; headquarters;...

Definitions

general staff, headquarters; headquarters;...

Ancestry of “état-major”, step by step

état-major traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via French État

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	French	État	state, nation; government; Alternative...
2	Old French	estat	state; government; condition
3	Latin	stātus	fixed, set, having been set
4	Latin	stō	to stand
5	Proto-Italic	staēō	stand
6	Proto-Indo-European	sth₂éh₁yeti	to stand
7	Proto-Indo-European	*steh₂-	—

via French major

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	French	major	major, the upper rank of French non-commissioned...
2	Latin	māior	ancestors, forefathers; advanced in years, the aged; the elders
3	Latin	magnus	large, big; great; important
4	Proto-Indo-European	meǵh₂-	big, great; great; big, stour, great

Every word from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European sth₂éh₁yeti →Every word from Proto-Italic staēō →