Where does “centerfold” come from?

centerfold (English) comes from English Center, from Middle English center, from Middle French centre, from Latin centrum, from Ancient Greek κέντρον, from Proto-Hellenic *kéntron, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱéntrom — pointed tool.

centerfold (English): The single sheet of paper that forms the middle...

Definitions

  1. The single sheet of paper that forms the middle...

Ancestry of “centerfold”, step by step

centerfold traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Center

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishCenterThe point in the interior of a circle that is equidistant from all points on the circumference
2Middle Englishcenter—
3Middle Frenchcentre—
4Latincentrumcenter
5Ancient GreekκέντρονSomething with a sharp point: point, spike, spur;...
6Proto-Hellenic*kéntron—
7Proto-Indo-European*ḱéntrompointed tool

via English fold

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfoldTo bend over so that it comes in contact with...
2Middle EnglishfoldA pen, enclosure, or shelter for domesticated animals
3Old Englishfald—
4Proto-Germanicfaludazan enclosed space, enclosure
Every word from Proto-Indo-European *ḱéntrom →Every word from Proto-Hellenic *kéntron →Every word from Ancient Greek κέντρον →