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

Definitions

  1. captain

Ancestry of “Kaptain”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Low GermanKaptaincaptain
2Middle Low Germankapitein—
3Medieval Latincapitaneuslarge, chief in size; capital; captain, commander
4Latincaputhead; headlike protuberance on an organ or body...
5Proto-Italickaputhead
6Proto-Indo-Europeankáputhead
7Proto-Indo-Europeankap-to seize, hold
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kap- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European káput →Every word from Proto-Italic kaput →