Where does “posse” come from?
posse (Middle High German) comes from Old French bosse, from Vulgar Latin bottia, from Frankish bottija, from Frankish bōtan, from Proto-Germanic bautaną, from Proto-Indo-European bʰewd-, from Proto-Indo-European bʰew- — to grow, swell; to swell, wax, grow; to blow; to...
posse (Middle High German): prank, farce
Definitions
- prank, farce
Ancestry of “posse”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | bosse | bump, lump, swelling, sublimity, loftiness |
| 2 | Vulgar Latin | bottia | bump |
| 3 | Frankish | bottija | — |
| 4 | Frankish | bōtan | to strike, knock down |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | bautaną | to beat, push |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰewd- | to hit, strike; to beat, push; to strike, push,... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰew- | to grow, swell; to swell, wax, grow; to blow; to... |