captain

Where does the word "captain" come from? It comes from Latin caput, passing through Late Latin and Old French before entering English (1300s).

Captain’s story begins in Latin: caput meant “head.” The root of 'capital', 'chief' and 'cabbage'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as capitaneus. Chief, a head leader, from caput. From there it passed into Old French as capitaine by medieval. Carried into French for a military or ship's leader. It reached English by 1300s as captain. Settled as the English word for the leader of a group, ship, or military unit. Today, captain means the leader of a group, ship, aircraft, or military unit.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient caput "head", the root of 'capital', 'chief' and 'cabbage'.
2. Stage 2 · Late Latin · medieval capitaneus "chief, a head leader", chief, a head leader, from caput.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval capitaine "a military or ship's leader", carried into French for a military or ship's leader.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s captain "the leader of a group, ship, or military unit", settled as the English word for the leader of a group, ship, or military unit.