rt (Serbo-Croatian)
Where does "rt" come from?
The Serbo-Croatian word 'rt,' meaning a cape or headland, traces its roots back to the Proto-Slavic term *rъtъ. This ancient root likely referred to a beak or tooth, and is thought to be connected to the verb meaning 'to dig' or 'to burrow,' painting a vivid picture of a point of land jutting out like a protrusion. First recorded in the 13th century, the term has long been used to describe these distinctive geographical features.
Full etymology tree
- rt (Serbo-Croatian), 'a cape, promontory, headland'
- inherited *rъtъ (Proto-Slavic), 'beak, tooth'
- inherited *ryti (Proto-Slavic), 'to dig'
- inherited *rūˀ- (Proto-Balto-Slavic)
- inherited *Hrew- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to tear out, dig out, open, acquire'
- inherited *(H)ruH- (Proto-Indo-European)
- inherited *rūˀ- (Proto-Balto-Slavic)
- inherited *ryti (Proto-Slavic), 'to dig'
- inherited *rъtъ (Proto-Slavic), 'beak, tooth'
Ancestors
- *rъtъ (Proto-Slavic)
Updated June 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris