Where does “sefu” come from?
sefu (Swahili) comes from English safe, from Middle English sauf, from Old French sauf, from Latin salvus, from Proto-Italic *salawos, from Proto-Indo-European solh₂wós, from Proto-Indo-European sōlh₂- — mercy, comfort; comfort, mercy.
sefu (Swahili): safe box in which valuables can be locked for safekeeping
Definitions
- safe box in which valuables can be locked for safekeeping
Ancestry of “sefu”, step by step
sefu traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English safe
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | safe | Not in danger; out of harm's reach; Free from... |
| 2 | Middle English | sauf | Not having experienced harm, damage, or ill... |
| 3 | Old French | sauf | — |
| 4 | Latin | salvus | safe, saved, preserved, sound, unharmed,... |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | *salawos | whole |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | solh₂wós | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | sōlh₂- | mercy, comfort; comfort, mercy |
via Arabic سَيْف
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arabic | سَيْف | sword |
| 2 | Arabic | سَيْف اَلْجَبَّار | sword of the giant |