Etymology Explorer › French

Where does “gouffre” come from?

gouffre (French) comes from Spanish gofre, from Latin colfus, from Latin colpus, from Ancient Greek κόλπος, from Proto-Indo-European kʷelp-, from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- — to turn.

gouffre (French): pit or shaft cave, pothole; chasm

Definitions

  1. pit or shaft cave, pothole; chasm

Ancestry of “gouffre”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Spanishgofrewaffle
2Latincolfus—
3Latincolpusstroke; strike; hit
4Ancient Greekκόλποςbosom, lap; a fold in fabric around the bosom;...
5Proto-Indo-Europeankʷelp-to bend; to curve, arch
6Proto-Indo-Europeankʷel-to turn
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- →