Where does “салфетка” come from?
салфетка (Mongolian) comes from Russian салфе́тка, from German Salvette, from Italian salvietta, from French serviette, from French servir, from German servieren, from Italian servire, from Spanish servir — to flow; to guard; to bind, to tie together.
салфетка (Mongolian): napkin, serviette
Ancestry of “салфетка”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Russian | салфе́тка | — |
| 2 | German | Salvette | — |
| 3 | Italian | salvietta | serviette, napkin |
| 4 | French | serviette | towel; napkin; briefcase |
| 5 | French | servir | to serve; to be used for; to be useful for... |
| 6 | German | servieren | To serve ; to wait |
| 7 | Italian | servire | to serve; to need; to plate |
| 8 | Spanish | servir | to serve; to be of use, to be good for; to help... |
| 9 | Latin | serviō | — |
| 10 | Latin | servus | a servant; a serf; a slave |
| 11 | Proto-Italic | serwos | guardian |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | ser-wo-s | guardian |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | ser- | to flow; to guard; to bind, to tie together |