Where does “Kreuzzeichen” come from?

Kreuzzeichen (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.

Kreuzzeichen (German): sign of the cross gesture

Definitions

  1. sign of the cross gesture

Ancestry of “Kreuzzeichen”, step by step

Kreuzzeichen 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 zeichen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanzeichensign, token
2Old High Germanzeihhansign, symbol, feature; sign, symbol
3Proto-West Germanictaiknsign, token, symbol
4Proto-Germanictaiknąsign, token, symbol
5Proto-Indo-Europeandeyḱ-to point out
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sḱer- →Every word from Proto-Italic *kruks →Every word from Latin crux →