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<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8" content="text/html;charset=utf-8;"> <title data-react-helmet="true" name="twitter:title">c | Search Online Etymology Dictionary</title> <meta data-react-helmet="true" http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1"/><meta data-react-helmet="true" name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"/><meta data-react-helmet="true" name="apple-mobile-web-app-capable" content="yes"/><meta data-react-helmet="true" name="theme-color" content="#83001d"/><meta data-react-helmet="true" name="description" property="og:description" content="The online etymology dictionary (etymonline) is the internet&#x27;s go-to source for quick and reliable accounts of the origin and history of English words, phrases, and idioms. 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Alphabetic writing came to Rome via the southern Etruscan &quot;Caeretan&quot; script, in which <span class="foreign notranslate">gamma</span> was written as a crescent. Early Romans made little use of Greek <span class="foreign notranslate">kappa</span> and used <span class="foreign notranslate">gamma</span> for both the &quot;g&quot; and &quot;k&quot; sounds, the latter more frequently, so that the &quot;k&quot; sound came to be seen as the proper one for <span class="foreign notranslate">gamma</span>. Classical Latin <span class="foreign notranslate">-c-</span>, with only the value &quot;k,&quot; passed to Celtic and, via missionary Irish monks, to the Anglo-Saxons. Also see <a href="/word/cee" title="Etymology, meaning and definition of cee " class="crossreference notranslate">cee</a>.</p> <p>In some Old English words, before some vowels and in certain positions, <span class="foreign notranslate">-c-</span> had a &quot;ts&quot; sound that was respelled <span class="foreign notranslate">ch-</span> in Middle English by French scribes (<a href="/word/chest" title="Etymology, meaning and definition of chest " class="crossreference notranslate">chest</a>, <a href="/word/cheese" title="Etymology, meaning and definition of cheese " class="crossreference notranslate">cheese</a>, <a href="/word/church" title="Etymology, meaning and definition of church " class="crossreference notranslate">church</a>; see <a href="/word/ch" title="Etymology, meaning and definition of ch " class="crossreference notranslate">ch</a>). In Old English <span class="foreign notranslate">-k-</span> was known but little used.</p> <p>Meanwhile, in Old French, many &quot;k&quot; sounds drifted to &quot;ts&quot; and by 13c., &quot;s,&quot; but still were written <span class="foreign notranslate">-c-</span>. Thus the 1066 invasion brought to the English language a flood of French and Latin words in which <span class="foreign notranslate">-c-</span> represented &quot;s&quot; (as in <a href="/word/cease" title="Etymology, meaning and definition of cease " class="crossreference notranslate">cease</a>, <a href="/word/ceiling" title="Etymology, meaning and definition of ceiling " class="crossreference notranslate">ceiling</a>, <a href="/word/circle" title="Etymology, meaning and definition of circle " class="crossreference notranslate">circle</a>) and a more vigorous use of <span class="foreign notranslate">-k-</span> to distinguish that sound. By 15c. even native English words with <span class="foreign notranslate">-s-</span> were being respelled with <span class="foreign notranslate">-c-</span> for &quot;s&quot; (<a href="/word/ice" title="Etymology, meaning and definition of ice " class="crossreference notranslate">ice</a>, <span class="foreign notranslate">mice</span>, <span class="foreign notranslate">lice</span>).</p> <p>In some English words from Italian, the <span class="foreign notranslate">-c-</span> has a &quot;ch&quot; sound (via a sound evolution somewhat like the Old French one). In German, <span class="foreign notranslate">-c-</span> in loanwords was regularized to <span class="foreign notranslate">-k-</span> or <span class="foreign notranslate">-z-</span> (depending on pronunciation) in the international spelling reform of 1901, which was based on the Duden guide of 1880.</p> <p>As a symbol in the Roman numeral system, &quot;one hundred;&quot; the symbol originally was a Greek theta, but was later reduced in form and understood to stand for <span class="foreign notranslate">centum</span>. In music, it is the name of the keynote of the natural scale, though the exact pitch varied in time and place 18c. and 19c. from 240 vibrations per second to 275; it wasn&#x27;t entirely regularized (at 261.63) until the adoption of the A440 standard in the 1930s. <span class="foreign notranslate"><strong>C-spring</strong></span> as a type of carriage spring is from 1794, so called for its shape.</p></section></div></div><a data-more="true" class="word_4pc__footer--2yfj3" href="/word/C#etymonline_v_27561"><span>Related entries &amp; more</span>聽<i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="opacity:0"></i></a><div style="clear:both"></div></div><div data-ad-container="true" class="adContainer--6CVz1 vertical" style="margin-top:1em"><span class="adLabel--35hfi">Advertisement</span><div id="div-gpt-ad-pc-sp-infeed-1" style="min-width:728px;min-height:90px"></div></div><div class="word--C9UPa word_4pc--2SZw8"><div><a class="word__name--TTbAA word_thumbnail__name--1khEg" style="margin-bottom:5px;display:block" title="Origin and meaning of Caaba" href="/word/Caaba#etymonline_v_53144">Caaba<!-- -->聽<span class="word_thumbnail__name_icon--2RFFN"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="font-size:16px"></i></span></a><div class="word__etymology_expand--1s7tE"><section class="word__defination--2q7ZH undefined"><div></div><p>see <a href="/word/Kaaba" title="Etymology, meaning and definition of Kaaba " class="crossreference notranslate">Kaaba</a>.</p></section></div></div><a data-more="true" class="word_4pc__footer--2yfj3" href="/word/Caaba#etymonline_v_53144"><span>Related entries &amp; more</span>聽<i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="opacity:0"></i></a><div style="clear:both"></div></div><div class="word--C9UPa word_4pc--2SZw8"><div><a class="word__name--TTbAA word_thumbnail__name--1khEg" style="margin-bottom:5px;display:block" title="Origin and meaning of cab" href="/word/cab#etymonline_v_538">cab<!-- -->聽<!-- -->(n.)<span class="word_thumbnail__name_icon--2RFFN"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="font-size:16px"></i></span></a><div class="word__etymology_expand--1s7tE"><section class="word__defination--2q7ZH undefined"><div></div><p>1826, &quot;light, two- or four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage,&quot; a colloquial London shortening of <span class="foreign notranslate">cabriolet</span>, a type of covered horse-drawn carriage (1763), from French <span class="foreign notranslate">cabriolet</span> (18c.), diminutive of <span class="foreign notranslate">cabriole</span> &quot;a leap, a caper,&quot; earlier <span class="foreign notranslate">capriole</span> (16c.), from Italian <span class="foreign notranslate">capriola</span> &quot;a caper, frisk, leap,&quot; literally &quot;a leap like that of a kid goat,&quot; from <span class="foreign notranslate">capriola</span> &quot;a kid, a fawn,&quot; from Latin <span class="foreign notranslate">capreolus</span> &quot;wild goat, roebuck,&quot; from <span class="foreign notranslate">caper</span>, <span class="foreign notranslate">capri</span> &quot;he-goat, buck,&quot; from PIE <span class="foreign notranslate">*kap-ro-</span> &quot;he-goat, buck&quot; (source also of Old Irish <span class="foreign notranslate">gabor</span>, Welsh <span class="foreign notranslate">gafr</span>, Old English <span class="foreign notranslate">h忙fr</span>, Old Norse <span class="foreign notranslate">hafr</span> &quot;he-goat&quot;). The carriages were noted for their springy suspensions.</p> <p>Originally a passenger-vehicle drawn by two or four horses; it was introduced into London from Paris in 1820. The name was extended to hansoms and other types of carriages, then to similar-looking parts of locomotives (1851). It was applied especially to public horse carriages, then to automobiles-for-hire (1899) when these began to replace them.</p></section></div></div><a data-more="true" class="word_4pc__footer--2yfj3" href="/word/cab#etymonline_v_538"><span>Related entries &amp; more</span>聽<i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="opacity:0"></i></a><div style="clear:both"></div></div><div class="word--C9UPa word_4pc--2SZw8"><div><a class="word__name--TTbAA word_thumbnail__name--1khEg" style="margin-bottom:5px;display:block" title="Origin and meaning of cabal" href="/word/cabal#etymonline_v_539">cabal<!-- -->聽<!-- -->(n.)<span class="word_thumbnail__name_icon--2RFFN"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="font-size:16px"></i></span></a><div class="word__etymology_expand--1s7tE"><section class="word__defination--2q7ZH undefined"><div></div><p>1520s, &quot;mystical interpretation of the Old Testament,&quot; later &quot;an intriguing society, a small group meeting privately&quot; (1660s), from French <span class="foreign notranslate">cabal</span>, which had both senses, from Medieval Latin <span class="foreign notranslate">cabbala</span> (see <a href="/word/cabbala" title="Etymology, meaning and definition of cabbala " class="crossreference notranslate">cabbala</a>). Popularized in English 1673 as an acronym for five intriguing ministers of Charles II (Clifford, Arlington, Buckingham, Ashley, and Lauderdale), which gave the word its sinister connotations.</p></section></div></div><a data-more="true" class="word_4pc__footer--2yfj3" href="/word/cabal#etymonline_v_539"><span>Related entries &amp; more</span>聽<i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="opacity:0"></i></a><div style="clear:both"></div></div><div class="word--C9UPa word_4pc--2SZw8"><div><a class="word__name--TTbAA word_thumbnail__name--1khEg" style="margin-bottom:5px;display:block" title="Origin and meaning of cabala" href="/word/cabala#etymonline_v_27565">cabala<!-- -->聽<!-- -->(n.)<span class="word_thumbnail__name_icon--2RFFN"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="font-size:16px"></i></span></a><div class="word__etymology_expand--1s7tE"><section class="word__defination--2q7ZH undefined"><div></div><p>1670s, variant of <a href="/word/cabbala" title="Etymology, meaning and definition of cabbala " class="crossreference notranslate">cabbala</a>. Related: <span class="foreign notranslate">Cabalist</span>.</p></section></div></div><a data-more="true" class="word_4pc__footer--2yfj3" href="/word/cabala#etymonline_v_27565"><span>Related entries &amp; more</span>聽<i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="opacity:0"></i></a><div style="clear:both"></div></div><div data-ad-container="true" class="adContainer--6CVz1 vertical" style="margin-top:1em"><span class="adLabel--35hfi">Advertisement</span><ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7093273770345366" style="display:block;width:100%" data-ad-slot="5022190299" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins></div><div class="word--C9UPa word_4pc--2SZw8"><div><a class="word__name--TTbAA word_thumbnail__name--1khEg" style="margin-bottom:5px;display:block" title="Origin and meaning of cabalistic" href="/word/cabalistic#etymonline_v_40418">cabalistic<!-- -->聽<!-- -->(adj.)<span class="word_thumbnail__name_icon--2RFFN"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="font-size:16px"></i></span></a><div class="word__etymology_expand--1s7tE"><section class="word__defination--2q7ZH undefined"><div></div><p>1670s; see <a href="/word/cabbalistic" title="Etymology, meaning and definition of cabbalistic " class="crossreference notranslate">cabbalistic</a>; also compare <a href="/word/cabal" title="Etymology, meaning and definition of cabal " class="crossreference notranslate">cabal</a>.</p></section></div></div><a data-more="true" class="word_4pc__footer--2yfj3" href="/word/cabalistic#etymonline_v_40418"><span>Related entries &amp; more</span>聽<i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="opacity:0"></i></a><div style="clear:both"></div></div><div class="word--C9UPa word_4pc--2SZw8"><div><a class="word__name--TTbAA word_thumbnail__name--1khEg" style="margin-bottom:5px;display:block" title="Origin and meaning of caballero" href="/word/caballero#etymonline_v_540">caballero<!-- -->聽<!-- -->(n.)<span class="word_thumbnail__name_icon--2RFFN"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="font-size:16px"></i></span></a><div class="word__etymology_expand--1s7tE"><section class="word__defination--2q7ZH undefined"><div></div><p>1861, &quot;a Spanish gentleman,&quot; from Spanish <span class="foreign notranslate">caballero</span>, from Latin <span class="foreign notranslate">caballarius</span>, from <span class="foreign notranslate">caballus</span> &quot;a pack-horse, nag, hack&quot; (see <a href="/word/cavalier#etymonline_v_8302" title="Etymology, meaning and definition of cavalier " class="crossreference notranslate">cavalier</a> (n.)). It is the equivalent of French <span class="foreign notranslate">chevalier</span>, Italian <span class="foreign notranslate">cavaliere</span>. Also the name of a kind of stately Spanish dance.</p></section></div></div><a data-more="true" class="word_4pc__footer--2yfj3" href="/word/caballero#etymonline_v_540"><span>Related entries &amp; more</span>聽<i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="opacity:0"></i></a><div style="clear:both"></div></div><div class="word--C9UPa word_4pc--2SZw8"><div><a class="word__name--TTbAA word_thumbnail__name--1khEg" style="margin-bottom:5px;display:block" title="Origin and meaning of cabana" href="/word/cabana#etymonline_v_541">cabana<!-- -->聽<!-- -->(n.)<span class="word_thumbnail__name_icon--2RFFN"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="font-size:16px"></i></span></a><div class="word__etymology_expand--1s7tE"><section class="word__defination--2q7ZH undefined"><div></div><p>&quot;a hut or shelter,&quot; 1898, western U.S., from American Spanish cognate of <a href="/word/cabin" title="Etymology, meaning and definition of cabin " class="crossreference notranslate">cabin</a> (q.v.).</p></section></div></div><a data-more="true" class="word_4pc__footer--2yfj3" href="/word/cabana#etymonline_v_541"><span>Related entries &amp; more</span>聽<i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="opacity:0"></i></a><div style="clear:both"></div></div><div class="word--C9UPa word_4pc--2SZw8"><div><a class="word__name--TTbAA word_thumbnail__name--1khEg" style="margin-bottom:5px;display:block" title="Origin and meaning of cabaret" href="/word/cabaret#etymonline_v_542">cabaret<!-- -->聽<!-- -->(n.)<span class="word_thumbnail__name_icon--2RFFN"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="font-size:16px"></i></span></a><div class="word__etymology_expand--1s7tE"><section class="word__defination--2q7ZH undefined"><div></div><p>1650s, &quot;tavern, bar, little inn,&quot; from French <span class="foreign notranslate">cabaret</span>, originally &quot;tavern&quot; (13c.), which is of uncertain origin, perhaps from Middle Dutch <span class="foreign notranslate">cambret</span>, from Old French (Picard dialect) <span class="foreign notranslate">camberete</span>, diminutive of <span class="foreign notranslate">cambre</span> &quot;chamber&quot; (see <a href="/word/chamber#etymonline_v_8399" title="Etymology, meaning and definition of chamber " class="crossreference notranslate">chamber</a> (n.)). The word was &quot;somewhat naturalized&quot; in this sense [OED]. It was borrowed again from French with a meaning &quot;a restaurant/night club&quot; in 1912; the extension of meaning to &quot;entertainment, floor show&quot; is by 1918.</p></section></div></div><a data-more="true" class="word_4pc__footer--2yfj3" href="/word/cabaret#etymonline_v_542"><span>Related entries &amp; more</span>聽<i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="opacity:0"></i></a><div style="clear:both"></div></div><div class="word--C9UPa word_4pc--2SZw8"><div><a class="word__name--TTbAA word_thumbnail__name--1khEg" style="margin-bottom:5px;display:block" title="Origin and meaning of cabbage" href="/word/cabbage#etymonline_v_543">cabbage<!-- -->聽<!-- -->(n.)<span class="word_thumbnail__name_icon--2RFFN"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="font-size:16px"></i></span></a><div class="word__etymology_expand--1s7tE"><section class="word__defination--2q7ZH undefined"><div></div><p>type of cultivated culinary vegetable that grows a rounded head of thick leaves, mid-15c., <span class="foreign notranslate">caboge</span>, from Old North French <span class="foreign notranslate">caboche</span> &quot;head&quot; (in dialect, &quot;cabbage&quot;), from Old French <span class="foreign notranslate">caboce</span> &quot;head,&quot; a diminutive from Latin <span class="foreign notranslate">caput</span> &quot;head&quot; (from PIE root <a href="/word/*kaput-" title="Etymology, meaning and definition of *kaput- " rel="nofollow" class="crossreference notranslate">*kaput-</a> &quot;head&quot;). Earlier in Middle English as <span class="foreign notranslate">caboche</span> (late 14c.).</p> <p>The decline of &quot;ch&quot; to &quot;j&quot; in the unaccented final syllable parallels the common pronunciation of <span class="foreign notranslate">spinach</span>, <span class="foreign notranslate">sandwich</span>, <span class="foreign notranslate">Greenwich</span>, etc. The comparison of a head of cabbage to the head of a person (usually disparaging to the latter) is at least as old as Old French <span class="foreign notranslate">cabus</span> &quot;(head of) cabbage; nitwit, blockhead,&quot; from Italian <span class="foreign notranslate">capocchia</span>, diminutive of <span class="foreign notranslate">capo</span>.</p> <p>The plant was introduced to Canada 1541 by Jacques Cartier on his third voyage. The earliest record of it in the modern U.S. is 1660s. The <span class="foreign notranslate"><strong>cabbage-butterfly</strong></span> (1816) is so called because its caterpillars feed on cabbages and other cruciferous plants.</p></section></div></div><a data-more="true" class="word_4pc__footer--2yfj3" href="/word/cabbage#etymonline_v_543"><span>Related entries &amp; more</span>聽<i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="opacity:0"></i></a><div style="clear:both"></div></div><div class="pagination_simple--1ilDd"><a style="visibility:hidden" title="prev" class="pagination_simple_prev--1rWzQ" role="button" href="/search?page=0&amp;q=c&amp;type="><i class="fa fa-2x fa-angle-left" aria-hidden="true"></i></a><a title="next" role="button" href="/search?page=2&amp;q=c&amp;type=">Next</a><a style="visibility:visible" title="next" class="pagination_simple_next--3KB2t" role="button" href="/search?page=2&amp;q=c&amp;type="><i class="fa fa-2x fa-angle-right" aria-hidden="true"></i></a></div><ul class="ant-pagination pagination--1DEpf" 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