English
cavesson
Cavesson comes from Italian cavezza ‘halter’, from Vulgar Latin caput ‘the head’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap-.
- 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
- Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CEcaput‘the head’
- Vulgar Latin, derivedc. 100–700 CEneuter
- Vulgar Latin, derivedc. 100–700 CEcapitia
- Italianc. 1300–presentcavezza‘halter’
- Italian, derivedc. 1300–presentcavezzoneaugmentative of cavezza
- Frenchc. 1600–presentcaveçon
- Englishearliest quotation 1819cavesson
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
- Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CEcaput‘the head’
- Vulgar Latin, derivedc. 100–700 CEneuter
- Vulgar Latin, derivedc. 100–700 CEcapitia
- Italianc. 1300–presentcavezza‘halter’
- Italian, derivedc. 1300–presentcavezzoneaugmentative of cavezza
- Frenchc. 1600–presentcaveçon
- Englishearliest quotation 1819cavesson
Earliest quotation: 1819, Jedediah Cleishbotham pseudonym; Walter , Tales of My Landlord: “I’ll be bound, Lady Ashton understands every machine for…”
The story
From French caveçon, from Italian cavezzone, augmentative of cavezza (‘halter’), probably from Latin caput (‘head’), although derivation from Germanic has also been suggested; compare Old English cæfl (‘bit, muzzle’).
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *kap- ‘head’
had, case, except, accept, heavy, cash, receive, catch, capacity, behavior, chase, capable, achieve, heavily, cable, capture, recipe, reception, occupation, perception, recipient, hawk, anticipate, haven, susceptible, behave, anticipation, capsule, deception, captivity, chassis, caption, cater, captive, deceit, deceive, deceptive, casket, cassette, conceive, 133 more
through Proto-Indo-European *káput ‘head’
through Proto-Italic *kaput ‘head’
capitalism, capitalize, capitan, capote, escapade, capitaine, 59 more
through Vulgar Latin caput ‘the head’
capital, captain, chapter, escape, chef, cape, chapel, cattle, cabin, capitol, capita, precipitation, chaplain, mischief, mischievous, cad, chieftain, precipitate, capillary, occipital, precipitous, chattel, cabana, capo, capa, caddie, capitulate, chabot, jefe, capuchin, scamper, kaput, scamp, dishevelled, chaperon, caput, cabochon, 67 more
through Vulgar Latin neuter
force, neutral, mandate, marvel, menstrual, coliseum, neuter, rapunzel, colosseum, legate, cadenza, 10 more
through Vulgar Latin capitia
Today it means
noun A part of a horse's bridle that consists of a headstall with a noseband. When a martingale is used, it is attached to the horse's head at the cavesson.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *kap- / cavesson