Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “countertop” come from?

Countertop derives from English counter (from Old French contre, from Latin contra) combined with English top, ultimately tracing through Latin contra and related formation elements.

countertop (English): The top surface of a counter, for preparation of...

Definitions

  1. The top surface of a counter, for preparation of...

Ancestry of “countertop”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcounterOne who counts; A reckoner; someone who collects...
2Middle Englishcountour—
3Middle FrenchcontoirAlternative spelling of comptoir
4Middle Frenchcompterto recount; to tell
5Old Frenchcompter—
6Latincomputāre—
7Latincomputō—
8Latincom-allomorph of con-
9Latincon-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing...
10Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
11Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
12Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
13Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
14Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
15Middle Englishkyt—
16Germankitt—
17Old High Germankuti—
18Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
19Proto-Germanickweduzresin
20Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
21Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “countertop”

  • countertopped
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →