Where does “Veracruz” come from?
Veracruz (Spanish) comes from Spanish Cruz, from Portuguese cruz, from Italian croce, from Latin crux, from Proto-Italic *kruks, from Proto-Indo-European sḱer- — to caw, crow.
Ancestry of “Veracruz”, step by step
Veracruz traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Spanish Cruz
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spanish | Cruz | cross |
| 2 | Portuguese | cruz | cross |
| 3 | Italian | croce | cross |
| 4 | Latin | crux | wooden frame on which criminals were crucified,... |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | *kruks | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | sḱer- | to caw, crow |
via Spanish vera
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spanish | vera | side, face; shore, bank; edge, border |
| 2 | Latin | viria | sort of bracelet worn by men |
| 3 | Gaulish | viros | round, crooked |
| 4 | Proto-Celtic | *weiros | crooked |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | weyh₁ros | turned, twisted, threaded; threaded, turned,... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | weyh₁- | to chase, pursue; to suppress, persecute |