Where does “duty-free” come from?

duty-free (Portuguese) comes from English duty-free, from English duty, from Middle English duete, from Middle English dewe, from Old French deü, from Latin dēbēre, from Latin dē, from Latin post — afterwards, post; by, at.

duty-free (Portuguese): duty-free a shop where duty-free goods can be bought

Definitions

  1. duty-free a shop where duty-free goods can be bought

Ancestry of “duty-free”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishduty-freeExempt from duty, especially from customs duty; A...
2EnglishdutyThat which one is morally or legally obligated to...
3Middle EnglishdueteA charge, fee, or tax; a monetary sum one is owed...
4Middle EnglishdeweAlternative form of dew; Alternative form of...
5Old FrenchdeüAlternative form of deu
6Latindēbēre
7Latinof; concerning; about
8Latinpostbehind; after, since, besides, except; behind,...
9Latinposteablative singular of postis
10Proto-Italicpostibehind, after
11Proto-Indo-Europeanpóstiafter
12Proto-Indo-Europeanpósafterwards, post; by, at
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pósEvery word from Proto-Indo-European póstiEvery word from Proto-Italic posti