Where does “Kaff” come from?

Kaff (German) comes from Romani gav, from Sauraseni Prakrit 𑀕𑀸𑀫, from Sanskrit ग्राम, from Proto-Indo-Aryan grā́mas, from Proto-Indo-Iranian grā́mas, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ger- — to gather; flock, herd.

Kaff (German): backwater, Hicksville, bumfuck; chaff; junk,...

Definitions

  1. backwater, Hicksville, bumfuck; chaff; junk,...

Ancestry of “Kaff”, step by step

Kaff traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Romani gav

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Romanigavvillage
2Sauraseni Prakrit𑀕𑀸𑀫—
3Sanskritग्रामan inhabited place, village, hamlet, settlement;...
4Proto-Indo-Aryangrā́mas—
5Proto-Indo-Iraniangrā́masvillage, town; community
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ger-to gather; flock, herd

via Middle High German kaf

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle High Germankaf—
2Old High Germankaf—
3Proto-West Germanickafchaff
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂ger- →Every word from Proto-Indo-Iranian grā́mas →Every word from Proto-Indo-Aryan grā́mas →