English
capitan
Capitan comes from Spanish capitán ‘captain (leader)’, from Late Latin capitāneus ‘capital (of letters)’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap- ‘head’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kap-‘head’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*káput‘head’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*kaput‘head’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcaput‘head’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEcapitāneus‘capital (of letters)’
- Spanishc. 1500–presentcapitán‘captain (leader)’
- Englishtodaycapitan
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kap-‘head’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*káput‘head’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*kaput‘head’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcaput‘head’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEcapitāneus‘capital (of letters)’
- Spanishc. 1500–presentcapitán‘captain (leader)’
- Englishtodaycapitan
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *kap- ‘head’
had, case, except, heavy, accept, receive, behavior, cash, catch, achieve, heavily, chase, cable, recipe, reception, capable, occupation, perception, capacity, haven, capture, behave, hawk, recipient, susceptible, deception, anticipation, anticipate, chassis, conceive, deceive, deceptive, caption, cater, captive, capsule, cassette, conceivable, captivity, casket, 141 more
through Proto-Indo-European *káput ‘head’
through Proto-Italic *kaput ‘head’
through Latin caput ‘head’
chapter, chef, escape, cattle, cabin, chapel, cape, mischief, chaplain, precipitation, mischievous, cad, chattel, caddie, capillary, precipitate, chabot, precipitous, jefe, cabana, dishevelled, capo, occipital, scamper, escapade, capa, scamp, capuchin, kaput, chaperon, cabochon, caput, 70 more
through Late Latin capitāneus ‘capital (of letters)’
Today it means
noun Captain (in Spanish-speaking contexts).
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *kap- / capitan