Where does “šef” come from?

šef (Serbo-Croatian) comes from German Chef, from French chef, from Middle French chief, from Old French chief, from Vulgar Latin capum, from Latin caput, from Proto-Italic kaput, from Proto-Indo-European káput — to seize, hold.

šef (Serbo-Croatian): chief, boss, manager, director, head

Definitions

  1. chief, boss, manager, director, head

Ancestry of “šef”, step by step

šef traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German Chef

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanChefboss, chief
2Frenchchefhead; article, principal point; principal motive,...
3Middle Frenchchiefhead
4Old Frenchchiefhead; leader, chief; front
5Vulgar Latincapumhead, chief; head
6Latincaputhead; headlike protuberance on an organ or body...
7Proto-Italickaputhead
8Proto-Indo-Europeankáputhead
9Proto-Indo-Europeankap-to seize, hold

via English safe

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsafeNot in danger; out of harm's reach; Free from...
2Middle EnglishsaufNot having experienced harm, damage, or ill...
3Old Frenchsauf
4Latinsalvussafe, saved, preserved, sound, unharmed,...
5Proto-Italic*salawoswhole
6Proto-Indo-Europeansolh₂wós
7Proto-Indo-Europeansōlh₂-mercy, comfort; comfort, mercy
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kap-Every word from Proto-Indo-European káputEvery word from Proto-Italic kaput