Where does “contour” come from?

Contour comes from French contour, derived from French contourner, from Italian contornare, ultimately from Latin cum meaning "with."

contour (English): An outline, boundary or border, usually of curved...

Definitions

  1. An outline, boundary or border, usually of curved...

Ancestry of “contour”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchcontourcontour
2Frenchcontournerto circumvent, to bypass, to skirt around; to...
3Vulgar Latincontornare
4Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
5Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
6Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
9Middle Englishkyt
10Germankittputty certain kinds of cement used for fixing e.g. window panes
11Old High Germankuti
12Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
13Proto-Germanickweduzresin
14Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
15Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “contour

Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū-
contour — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer