English
roytelet
Roytelet comes from French roitelet ‘kinglet (bird)’, from roi ‘king’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- ‘to straighten’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃reǵ-‘to straighten’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃rḗǵs‘king, ruler’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*rēks‘king’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CErēxas rēgem‘king, ruler’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400roi‘king’
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600roy‘king (male ruler)’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentroi‘king’
- French, derivedc. 1600–presentroitelet‘kinglet (bird)’diminutive of roi
- Englishearliest quotation 1674roytelet
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃reǵ-‘to straighten’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃rḗǵs‘king, ruler’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*rēks‘king’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CErēxas rēgem‘king, ruler’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400roi‘king’
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600roy‘king (male ruler)’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentroi‘king’
- French, derivedc. 1600–presentroitelet‘kinglet (bird)’diminutive of roi
- Englishearliest quotation 1674roytelet
Earliest quotation: 1674, John Josselyn: “The chief Roytelet amongst the Mohawks now living, is…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- ‘to straighten’
right, director, source, region, regular, direction, address, direct, correct, dress, rule, rank, regime, arrangement, radar, realm, arrange, rack, ana, resurrection, regulate, rogue, riches, raj, erect, regent, royalty, rake, rector, interrogation, richness, regency, insurrection, rectify, anorexia, rectum, rhesus, rectification, régime, dirge, 95 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₃rḗǵs ‘king, ruler’
rich, rani, rajah, eldritch, 6 more
through Proto-Italic *rēks ‘king’
through Latin rēx ‘king, ruler’
real, royal, rex, regal, riel, 5 more
through Old French roi ‘king’
Today it means
noun A little king.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- / roytelet