Where does “bak” come from?
bak (Middle Dutch) comes from Old Dutch bak, from Proto-Germanic baką, from Proto-Indo-European bʰeg- — to break.
Ancestry of “bak”, step by step
bak traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Old Dutch bak
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old Dutch | bak | back, rear |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | baką | back, rear |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeg- | to break |
via Old French bac
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | bac | flat boat; large bowl |