Where does “crux” come from?

crux (Latin) comes from Proto-Italic *kruks, from Proto-Indo-European sḱer- — to caw, crow.

crux (Latin): wooden frame on which criminals were crucified,...

Definitions

  1. wooden frame on which criminals were crucified,...

Ancestry of “crux”, step by step

crux traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Proto-Italic *kruks

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Italic*kruks—
2Proto-Indo-Europeansḱer-to caw, crow

via Proto-Indo-European (s)ḱer-

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Indo-European(s)ḱer-dung, manure, filth; manure, dung, filth

Words derived from “crux”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European sḱer- →Every word from Proto-Italic *kruks →