myEtymology.com: English etymology of combat

Etymology of the English word combat

the English word combat

derived from the French word combat

derived from the Old French word combattre

derived from the Vulgar Latin word combattere

using the Latin prefix con- (together)

derived from the Latin prefix com-

derived from the Latin word cum (with)

derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *kom (near, with, together)

derived from the Latin word battere (pound, beat, hit)

derived from the Latin word battuere (pound, beat hit, strike)

using the Proto-Indo-European prefix bhau- (to hit)

The earliest known usage of combat in English dates from the 16th century.

Word found in Modern English