Cattle Definition

Origin of Cattle

• From Middle English catel, from Anglo-Norman catel (“personal property”), from Old Northern French (compare French cheptel, Old French chetel, chatel, also English chattel) from Medieval Latin capitāle, from Latin capitālis (“of the head”), from caput (“head”) + -alis (“-al”).

  From Wiktionary

• Middle English catel property, livestock from Old North French from Old Provençal capdal from Medieval Latin capitāle holdings, funds from neuter of Latin capitālis principal, original from caput head kaput- in Indo-European roots

  From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition