Where does “amt” come from?

amt (German) comes from Middle High German ambahte, from Old High German ambahti, from Proto-Germanic ambahtaz, from Gaulish ambaxtos, from Proto-Celtic ambaxtos, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ- — to drive.

amt (German): agency; department; office state institution responsible for specified concerns

Definitions

  1. agency; department; office state institution responsible for specified concerns

Ancestry of “amt”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle High Germanambahte—
2Old High Germanambahtiposition, office
3Proto-Germanicambahtazservant
4Gaulishambaxtosvassal, high-ranking servant
5Proto-Celticambaxtosservant
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eǵ-to drive

Words derived from “amt”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ- →
amt — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer