Etymology Explorer › German

Where does “kreuz-” come from?

kreuz- (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.

Ancestry of “kreuz-”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanKreuzcross; clubs; sharp
2SpanishCruz—
3Portuguesecruzcross
4Italiancrocecross
5Latincruxwooden frame on which criminals were crucified,...
6Proto-Italic*kruks—
7Proto-Indo-Europeansḱer-to caw, crow
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sḱer- →