Where does “parrinu” come from?

parrinu (Maltese) comes from Sicilian parrinu, from Latin patrīnus, from Latin pater, from Proto-Italic patēr, from Proto-Indo-European ph₂tḗr, from Proto-Indo-European peh₂- — to protect; to shepherd.

parrinu (Maltese): godfather

Definitions

  1. godfather

Ancestry of “parrinu”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Sicilianparrinumale baptismal sponsor of one's child, a godfather
2Latinpatrīnusgodfather
3Latinpaterfather; head of household; parent
4Proto-Italicpatērfather
5Proto-Indo-Europeanph₂tḗrfather
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₂-to protect; to shepherd
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peh₂- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European ph₂tḗr →Every word from Proto-Italic patēr →