Where does “zastavnik” come from?

zastavnik (Serbo-Croatian) comes from Serbo-Croatian zastava, from Serbo-Croatian za, from Proto-Slavic za — behind, after (stationary).

zastavnik (Serbo-Croatian): warrant officer; ensign; flag-bearer,...

Definitions

  1. warrant officer; ensign; flag-bearer,...

Ancestry of “zastavnik”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Serbo-Croatianzastavaflag
2Serbo-Croatianzafor; behind, in back of, at; during
3Proto-Slaviczabehind, after (stationary)
Every word from Proto-Slavic za →Every word from Serbo-Croatian za →Every word from Serbo-Croatian zastava →