English
jefe
Jefe comes from Spanish jefe ‘leader, boss’, from Old French chief ‘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
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcaput‘the head’
- Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CEcapus
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400chief‘head’
- Old Spanishc. 950–1500xefe
- Spanishc. 1500–presentjefe‘leader, boss’
- Englishearliest quotation 1887same form
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‘the head’
- Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CEcapus
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400chief‘head’
- Old Spanishc. 950–1500xefe
- Spanishc. 1500–presentjefe‘leader, boss’
- Englishearliest quotation 1887same form
Earliest quotation: 1887, Hubert Howe Bancroft, History of Central America: “Antonio Rivera Cabezas was chosen vice-jefe in March 1830.”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *kap- ‘head’
had, case, except, heavy, cash, catch, accept, receive, capacity, behavior, capable, achieve, cable, heavily, chase, capture, recipe, reception, occupation, perception, haven, behave, recipient, hawk, anticipation, anticipate, caption, captive, capsule, susceptible, deception, captivity, cater, chassis, cassette, conceive, deceive, deceptive, casket, deceit, 134 more
through Proto-Indo-European *káput ‘head’
through Proto-Italic *kaput ‘head’
capitalism, capitalize, capitan, escapade, capitaine, 60 more
through Latin caput ‘the head’
capital, captain, chapter, escape, cape, cattle, cabin, chapel, capitol, capita, precipitation, chaplain, cad, mischief, capillary, precipitate, cabana, occipital, chieftain, capa, caddie, capote, precipitous, chattel, capitulate, capuchin, scamper, scamp, chabot, dishevelled, kaput, caput, chaperon, cabochon, 67 more
through Vulgar Latin capus
through Old French chief ‘head’
Today it means
noun An officer with political influence; a head or chief in government, such as a sheriff, particularly where that person is Hispanic or of Mexican descent.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *kap- / jefe