From Latin 'cavus' (hollow), from PIE *kewH- — thesame root behind 'cavern,' 'cavity,' 'concave,' and 'excavate.'
Definition
A natural underground chamber in a hillside or cliff, typically formed by erosion or the dissolving of rock.
The Full Story
Latin13th centurywell-attested
From OldFrench 'cave' (a cave, a cellar, a vault beneath the ground), from Latin 'cava' (a cave, a hollow space, a pit), the feminine substantive use of the adjective 'cavus' (hollow, concave, empty inside). Latin 'cavus' derives from PIE *ḱewH- (to swell, to become hollow, the idea of a space created by swelling or excavation). The samerootgives
Did you know?
In French, a 'cave' is a wine cellar, not what Englishspeakers picture. If youwant a natural cave in French, you say 'grotte' or 'caverne.' Spanish 'cueva' kept the cave meaning. The wine term 'cava' (Spanish sparkling wine) is the sameword — the wine is aged in caves.
cavus(Latin (hollow, concave — direct adjective source))caverna(Latin (cavern, large hollow))cava(Spanish/Italian (cave, hollow, also a sparkling wine from a hollow cellar))cage(Old French/English (enclosure — from Latin cavea, same root))concave(Latin/English (hollow inward — from concavus))