Etymology Explorer › Swedish

Where does “chef” come from?

chef (Swedish) comes 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, from Proto-Indo-European kap- — to seize, hold.

chef (Swedish): A boss; person in charge, person who directly...

Definitions

  1. A boss; person in charge, person who directly...

Ancestry of “chef”, step by step

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

Words derived from “chef”

  • rikshemvärnschef
  • departementschef
  • rikspolischef
  • chefsrådman
  • förvaltningschef
  • chefsåklagare
  • avdelningschef
  • statschef
  • redaktionschef
  • chefredaktör
  • riksbankschef
  • expeditionschef
  • kanslichef
  • rättschef
  • budgetchef
  • byråchef
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kap- →