Etymology Explorer › Portuguese

Where does “donzela” come from?

donzela (Portuguese) comes from Old Portuguese donzela, from Vulgar Latin domnicella, from Latin domina, from Latin Dominus, from Latin domus, from Proto-Italic domos, from Proto-Indo-European dṓm, from Proto-Indo-European dem- — to build; to arrange, to put together.

donzela (Portuguese): maiden, damsel; maid, handmaid

Definitions

  1. maiden, damsel; maid, handmaid

Ancestry of “donzela”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Portuguesedonzelamaiden, damsel, young unmarried woman
2Vulgar Latindomnicellaweasel; little maiden; damsel, maiden
3Latindominalady or mistress of the house
4LatinDominusthe Lord; Lord; The Lord
5Latindomushouse, home; any building or abode; native place,...
6Proto-Italicdomoshouse, home
7Proto-Indo-Europeandṓmhome; house
8Proto-Indo-Europeandem-to build; to arrange, to put together
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dem- →