Where does “escape character” come from?

escape character (English) comes from English escape, from Middle English escapen, from Old French escaper, from Vulgar Latin excappare, from Latin -āre, from Proto-Italic -āō, from Proto-Indo-European -eh₂yéti, from Proto-Indo-European -yéti — he, she.

escape character (English): A single metacharacter, usually a control code,...

Definitions

  1. A single metacharacter, usually a control code,...

Ancestry of “escape character”, step by step

escape character traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English escape

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishescapeTo get free; to free oneself
2Middle Englishescapen
3Old FrenchescaperAlternative form of eschaper
4Vulgar Latinexcapparepresent active infinitive of *excappō;...
5Latin-ārefirst conjugation
6Proto-Italic-āōForms primarily denominative verbs
7Proto-Indo-European-eh₂yétiCreates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive...
8Proto-Indo-European-yétiCreates intransitive, often deponent,...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanyé-
10Chichewaiyehe, she

via English character

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcharacterA being involved in the action of a story; A...
2Middle Englishcaracter
3Old Frenchcaracteremark; sign; indication
4Latincharacterbranding iron; brand; characteristic, mark,...
5Ancient Greekχαρακτήρinstrument used for engraving; person who...
6Ancient Greekχαράσσωto sharpen; to engrave, carve, write, draw, stamp
7Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰer-to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines
Every word from Chichewa iyeEvery word from Proto-Indo-European -yétiEvery word from Latin -āre