Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “dial” come from?

Dial comes from Middle English diall, from Middle French dyal, from Latin dialis, derived from dies meaning "day," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European dyew-.

dial (English): A graduated, circular scale over which a needle...

Definitions

  1. A graduated, circular scale over which a needle...

Ancestry of “dial”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishdiallA pointer on a dial; A timekeeping instrument,...
2Middle Frenchdyal—
3Latindiālis—
4Latindiēs—
5Proto-Italicdjēmaccusative singular of *djous
6Proto-Italic*djous—
7Proto-Indo-Europeandyḗwssky, heaven; sky god
8Proto-Indo-Europeandyéws—
9Proto-Indo-Europeandyew-to be bright; sky, heaven

Words derived from “dial”

  • dialing
  • sundial
  • redial
  • dialer
  • predial
  • autodial
  • dialable
  • dialout
  • autodialer
  • misdial
  • wardialer
  • moondial
  • diallist
  • subdial
  • dialless
  • dialist
  • dial in
  • dial-in
  • redialer
  • speed-dial
  • undialable
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dyew- →