Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Shift” come from?

Shift comes from Middle English schiften, Old English sċiftan, and Proto-Germanic skiftijaną and skiptijaną, ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European sek-.

Shift (English): A modifier key whose main function is shifting...

Definitions

  1. A modifier key whose main function is shifting...

Ancestry of “Shift”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishschiftenTo split, cut up, sunder; To share out,...
2Old Englishsċiftanto divide, separate into shares; appoint, ordain;...
3Proto-GermanicskiftijanąTo put in order; organise; arrange
4Proto-Germanicskipatjanąto organise, put in order
5Proto-Indo-Europeanskēyb-—
6Proto-Indo-Europeansḱēy-to shine; to shimmer; shadow; luster, gloss,...
7Proto-Germanicskaidąseparation, distinction
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanskÁit-to cut, part, spearate, divide; to cut, part,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European skÁit- →