Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “display” come from?

Display comes from Middle English displayen, from Old French despleier, combining the prefix des- with Old French pleier (to fold), ultimately from Latin plicare (to fold) and Latin ex (out), derived from Proto-Indo-European pel- (to fold).

display (English): A show or spectacle; A piece of work to be...

Definitions

  1. A show or spectacle; A piece of work to be...

Ancestry of “display”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishdisplayento display
2Old FrenchdespleierAlternative form of desploiier
3Latindisplicō—
4Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
5Latincalceusshoe
6Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
7Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “display”

  • redisplay
  • microdisplay
  • displayable
  • displayer
  • displayability
  • undisplayable
  • nondisplayable
  • codisplay
  • displaying
  • display
  • дисплей
  • display
  • display
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →