Where does “Briefkopf” come from?

Briefkopf (German) comes from German brief, from Middle High German brief, from Old High German briaf, from Latin breve, from Latin brevis, from Proto-Italic *breɣʷis, from Proto-Indo-European mréǵʰus, from Proto-Indo-European mreǵʰ- — short.

Briefkopf (German): letterhead

Definitions

  1. letterhead

Ancestry of “Briefkopf”, step by step

Briefkopf traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German brief

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanbriefletter (written message)
2Middle High Germanbrief
3Old High Germanbriaf
4Latinbrevenominative neuter singular of brevis; accusative...
5Latinbrevisshort, small, little, narrow; brief, short;...
6Proto-Italic*breɣʷis
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmréǵʰusshort; brief
8Proto-Indo-Europeanmreǵʰ-short

via German kopf

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germankopfhead
2Middle High Germankopfdrinking vessel
3Latincūppadrinking vessel
4Latincūpatub, cask, tun, vat
5Ancient Greekκώπηa handle
6Proto-Indo-Europeankóh₂p-eh₂
7Proto-Indo-Europeankeh₂p-to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mreǵʰ-Every word from Proto-Indo-European mréǵʰusEvery word from Proto-Italic *breɣʷis