Where does “chef” come from?

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

chef (Middle English): A leader, boss, or director; a chief official;...

Definitions

  1. A leader, boss, or director; a chief official;...

Ancestry of “chef”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchchiefhead; leader, chief; front
2Vulgar Latincapumhead, chief; head
3Latincaputhead; headlike protuberance on an organ or body...
4Proto-Italickaputhead
5Proto-Indo-Europeankáputhead
6Proto-Indo-Europeankap-to seize, hold

Words derived from “chef”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European kap- →
chef — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer