Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “chimneypiece” come from?

chimneypiece (English) comes from English chimney, from Middle English chymeneye, from Anglo-Norman chimenee, from Old French cheminee, from Latin camināta, from Latin camera, from Ancient Greek καμάρα, from Proto-Iranian kamarā- — to bend, to curve.

chimneypiece (English): A mantelpiece

Definitions

  1. A mantelpiece

Ancestry of “chimneypiece”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishchimneyA vertical tube or hollow column used to emit...
2Middle Englishchymeneye—
3Anglo-Normanchimenee—
4Old Frenchchemineechimney
5Latincamināta—
6LatincameraA chamber in its various senses, "including";...
7Ancient GreekκαμάραAnything with an arched cover such as a covered...
8Proto-Iraniankamarā-something curved
9Proto-Iraniankamárati—
10Proto-Indo-Iranian*kmárati—
11Proto-Indo-Europeankh₂em-to bend, to curve
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kh₂em- →