doge

Where does the word "doge" come from? It comes from Latin dux, passing through Venetian Italian before entering English (1540s).

Doge’s story begins in Latin: dux meant “a leader, commander.” The accusative form ducem, a plain word for a leader. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Venetian Italian as doge. Named the elected chief magistrate of the Venetian republic. It reached English by 1540s as doge. Borrowed for the same office in Venice and Genoa. Today, doge means historically, the elected chief magistrate of Venice or Genoa.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient dux "a leader, commander", the accusative form ducem, a plain word for a leader.
2. Stage 2 · Venetian Italian · medieval doge "the elected chief magistrate of Venice", named the elected chief magistrate of the Venetian republic.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1540s doge "the chief magistrate of Venice or Genoa", borrowed for the same office in Venice and Genoa.