Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “cape” come from?

cape (Middle English) comes from Old French cap, from Latin caput, from Proto-Italic kaput, from Proto-Indo-European káput, from Proto-Indo-European kap- — to seize, hold.

cape (Middle English): Alternative form of cappe; Alternative form of...

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of cappe; Alternative form of...

Ancestry of “cape”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchcap—
2Latincaputhead; headlike protuberance on an organ or body...
3Proto-Italickaputhead
4Proto-Indo-Europeankáputhead
5Proto-Indo-Europeankap-to seize, hold
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kap- →