Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “bool” come from?

Bool derives from English Boolean, which comes from English -ean, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European -ós through Latin -us, -um, -anus, Old Latin -os, and Proto-Italic -os.

bool (English): A Boolean variable, one whose value is either...

Definitions

  1. A Boolean variable, one whose value is either...

Ancestry of “bool”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcoolHaving a slightly low temperature; mildly or...
2Middle Englishcool—
3Middle Englishpek—
4Middle EnglishpikeAlternative form of pyke; pike; sharp point, iron...
5Old Englishpīcpointed object, pick axe
6Proto-Germanic*pīk—
7Latinpixpitch, tar
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpik-to be angry; pitch; resin
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpi-sap, juice

Words derived from “bool”

  • tribool
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pi- →