Etymology Explorer › French

Where does “cul” come from?

cul (French) comes from Middle French cul, from Old French cul, from Latin cūlus, from Proto-Celtic kūlos, from Proto-Indo-European ḱuH-ló-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kewH- — to cover, bedeck; cover.

cul (French): butt, bum, ass, arse; anus; arsehole; asshole;...

Definitions

  1. butt, bum, ass, arse; anus; arsehole; asshole;...

Ancestry of “cul”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchcularse; ass; anus
2Old Frenchculbottom; the buttock
3Latincūlus—
4Proto-Celtickūlos—
5Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱuH-ló-—
6Proto-Indo-European(s)kewH-to cover, bedeck; cover

Words derived from “cul”

  • tutu
  • culotte
  • bascule
  • culasse
  • tutin
  • torchecul
  • tutued
  • sans-culottide
  • sans-culotte
  • tutus
  • enculade
  • cul-de-sac
  • tutú
  • báscula
  • enculeur
  • torche-cul
  • sans-culottide
  • culotte
  • culot
  • éculer
  • reculer
  • reculade
  • basculeur
  • culcul
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)kewH- →