Where does “Kreuzbube” come from?

Kreuzbube (German) comes from German Kreuz, from Spanish Cruz, from Portuguese cruz, from Italian croce, from Latin crux, from Proto-Italic *kruks, from Proto-Indo-European sḱer- — to caw, crow.

Kreuzbube (German): jack of clubs, knave of clubs playing card

Definitions

  1. jack of clubs, knave of clubs playing card

Ancestry of “Kreuzbube”, step by step

Kreuzbube traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German Kreuz

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanKreuzcross; clubs; sharp
2SpanishCruzcross
3Portuguesecruzcross
4Italiancrocecross
5Latincruxwooden frame on which criminals were crucified,...
6Proto-Italic*kruks
7Proto-Indo-Europeansḱer-to caw, crow

via German Bube

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanBubeknave; jack; boy; lad; rogue; villain; naughty...
2Middle High Germanbuobeknave
3Old High GermanBuobo
4Proto-West Germanic*babō
5Proto-Germanicbō-A stem meaning "father, brother, close male...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰā-to say
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sḱer-Every word from Proto-Italic *kruksEvery word from Latin crux