Where does “Kaptain” come from?
Kaptain (Saterland Frisian) comes from Low German Kaptain, from Middle Low German kapitein, from Medieval Latin capitaneus, from Latin caput, from Proto-Italic kaput, from Proto-Indo-European káput, from Proto-Indo-European kap- — to seize, hold.
Kaptain (Saterland Frisian): captain
Ancestry of “Kaptain”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Low German | Kaptain | — |
| 2 | Middle Low German | kapitein | — |
| 3 | Medieval Latin | capitaneus | large, chief in size; capital; captain, commander |
| 4 | Latin | caput | head; headlike protuberance on an organ or body... |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | kaput | head |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | káput | head |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | kap- | to seize, hold |