Where does “filetype” come from?

filetype (English) comes from English type, from Middle English type, from Latin typus, from Ancient Greek τύπος, from Ancient Greek τύπτω, from Proto-Indo-European (s)tewp-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)tew- — to push, to hit.

filetype (English): An identifier indicating the type of information...

Definitions

  1. An identifier indicating the type of information...

Ancestry of “filetype”, step by step

filetype traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English type

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtypeA grouping based on shared characteristics; a...
2Middle Englishtypesymbol, figure, emblem
3Latintypusfigure, image; type, form, sort, kind; form,...
4Ancient GreekτύποςA blow, pressing; The results of a blow: mark,...
5Ancient Greekτύπτωto beat, strike, smite; to beat, strike oneself
6Proto-Indo-European(s)tewp-to push, to stick
7Proto-Indo-European(s)tew-to push, to hit

via English filé

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfiléA spicy herb made from the dried and ground...
2Frenchfilépast participle of filer; simple or twisted...
3Frenchfilerto spin; to thread through; to spin a thread
4Latinfīlāre
5Latinfīlumthread, string, filament, fiber
6Proto-Italicfī(s)lom
7Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷʰiH-(s-)lo-
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)tew-