Where does “coursework” come from?

Coursework derives from English course and work, with course tracing to Middle English cours, Old English curs, and Latin cursus (a running), from Latin curro (to run), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱers- (to run).

coursework (English): Work carried out by students of a particular...

Definitions

  1. Work carried out by students of a particular...

Ancestry of “coursework”, step by step

coursework traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English course

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcourseA sequence of events; A path that something or...
2Frenchcoursstream of water, river; course; teaching, lesson,...
3GermanKurscourse; exchange rate, market price
4Italiancorsocourse; stream, waterway; avenue
5Latincohorsa court; a farmyard or enclosure; a retinue or...
6Latinco-allomorph of con-
7Latincōn-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing together of several objects
8Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
9Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
10Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
11Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
12Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
13Middle Englishkyt
14Germankittputty certain kinds of cement used for fixing e.g. window panes
15Old High Germankuti
16Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
17Proto-Germanickweduzresin
18Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
19Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

via English work

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishwork"Employment."; "Effort."; Sustained effort to...
2Middle Englishwerkwork
3Old Englishweorcwork, in various senses, including
4Proto-West Germanicwerkwork
5Proto-Germanicwerkąwork
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwérǵomwork
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwerǵ-to make
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū-