Where does “contremaître” come from?

contremaître (French) comes from French contre, from Italian contro, from Italian forza, from Latin fortia, from Latin fortis, from Old Latin forctis, from Proto-Italic forktis, from Proto-Indo-European bʰerǵʰ- — to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain.

contremaître (French): foreman

Definitions

  1. foreman

Ancestry of “contremaître”, step by step

contremaître traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via French contre

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchcontreagainst; as against; in exchange for
2Italiancontroagainst; con; counter
3Italianforzaforce; strength; !
4Latinfortianominative neuter plural of fortis; accusative...
5Latinfortisstrong, powerful; firm, resolute, steadfast,...
6Old Latinforctisstrong
7Proto-Italicforktisstrong, robust
8Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰerǵʰ-to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain

via French Maître

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1FrenchMaîtrea title given to lawyers and notaries public in...
2Middle Frenchmaistremaster
3Old Frenchmaistremaster; Master; magister
4Latinmagisterteacher; master; a title of the Middle Ages,...
5Proto-Italicmagisterosbigger, greater
6Proto-Indo-Europeanméǵh₂isteros
7Proto-Indo-Europeanméǵh₂sbig, great
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰerǵʰ-Every word from Proto-Italic forktisEvery word from Old Latin forctis