kontor

The story

1. Middle French · derived fromcontoir
2. Middle Dutch · derived fromcontoor
3. Middle Low German · learned borrowing fromkontôr“commercial branch; writing room; counting desk/table”
4. German · learned borrowing fromKontor
5. English todaykontor

Attested since late 19th century. Learned borrowing from German Kontor and Middle Low German kontôr (“commercial branch; writing room; counting desk/table”), from Middle Dutch contoor, contoir, comptoir, from Middle French contoir, comptoir, from conter, compter (“to count”) + -oir (instrument suffix). Doublet of cantore, computer, and counter.

Words from the same roots