Where does “Postfach” come from?
Postfach (German) comes from German Post, from English post, from Middle French poste, from Italian posta, from Latin probāre, from Latin probō, from Latin Probus, from Proto-Indo-European pro-bhwo- — passed , crossed.
Postfach (German): post-office box
Definitions
- post-office box
Ancestry of “Postfach”, step by step
Postfach traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via German Post
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | Post | post; post office; Obsolete form of Porst |
| 2 | English | post | A long dowel or plank protruding from the ground;... |
| 3 | Middle French | poste | — |
| 4 | Italian | posta | mail, post; post office; stakes |
| 5 | Latin | probāre | — |
| 6 | Latin | probō | to approve, permit, commend |
| 7 | Latin | Probus | good, serviceable, excellent, superior, able |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | pro-bhwo- | being in front, prominent |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |