Where does “chef” come from?

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

chef (Old French): Alternative form of chief; head; important

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of chief; head; important

Ancestry of “chef”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Vulgar Latincapus—
2Latincaputhead; headlike protuberance on an organ or body...
3Proto-Italickaputhead
4Proto-Indo-Europeankáputhead
5Proto-Indo-Europeankap-to seize, hold

Words derived from “chef”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European kap- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European káput →Every word from Proto-Italic kaput →