1
Stage 1 of 4
caput
Latin · ancient
"head"
meaning "head"
2
Stage 2 of 4
capdet
Gascon · medieval
"little chief, younger son"
literally "little chief", a younger son of a noble family
3
Stage 3 of 4
cadet
French · 1600s
"a younger son; a junior military trainee"
applied to younger sons who entered military service
4
Stage 4 of 4
cadet
English · 1600s-1700s
"a trainee in military or police service"
adopted directly from French
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom