myEtymology.com: Spanish etymology of cardinal

Etymology of the Spanish word cardinal

the Spanish word cardinal

derived from the Latin word cardinalis (pertaining to a door hinge; cardinal, prince of Catholic Church; cardinal, principle, chief)

using the Latin suffix -alis

derived from the Latin word cardo (hinge; pole, axis)

derived from the Classical Latin word carduus (thistle; prickly bur, seed-vessel)

Dutch kardinaal, English cardinal, French cardinal, German Kardinal, Icelandic kárdínali, Italian cardinale, Norwegian kardinal, Portuguese cardeal, Spanish cardenal, Swedish kardinal