Where does “besa” come from?

besa (Serbo-Croatian) comes from Albanian besë, from Proto-Albanian baitši, from Proto-Indo-European bʰeydʰ- — to compel, force; to trust.

besa (Serbo-Croatian): oath, pledge, word of honour among Albanians

Definitions

  1. oath, pledge, word of honour among Albanians

Ancestry of “besa”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Albanianbesëpledge, word of honor; vow to avenge a murder;...
2Proto-Albanianbaitši—
3Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeydʰ-to compel, force; to trust
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰeydʰ- →Every word from Proto-Albanian baitši →Every word from Albanian besë →