Where does “Kaptain” come from?
Kaptain (German Low German) comes from Middle Low German kapitein, from Medieval Latin capitaneus, from Latin caput, from Proto-Italic kaput, from Proto-Indo-European káput, from Proto-Indo-European kap- — to seize, hold.
Kaptain (German Low German): captain
Definitions
- captain
Ancestry of “Kaptain”, step by step
Kaptain traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle Low German kapitein
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle Low German | kapitein | — |
| 2 | Medieval Latin | capitaneus | large, chief in size; capital; captain, commander |
| 3 | Latin | caput | head; headlike protuberance on an organ or body... |
| 4 | Proto-Italic | kaput | head |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | káput | head |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | kap- | to seize, hold |
via Middle Low German kapiteyne
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle Low German | kapiteyne | — |
via Middle Low German capetein
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle Low German | capetein | — |