Where does “grid reference” come from?

grid reference (English) comes from English reference, from Middle French référence, from Medieval Latin referentia, from Latin referēns, from Latin referō, from Latin rĕ-, from Latin prōdūcō, from Latin prō- — passed , crossed.

grid reference (English): The point or area on a map described by the...

Definitions

  1. The point or area on a map described by the...

Ancestry of “grid reference”, step by step

grid reference traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English reference

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishreferenceA relationship or relation; A measurement one can...
2Middle Frenchréférence
3Medieval Latinreferentianominative neuter plural of referēns; accusative...
4Latinreferēnsreturning, restoring, repaying
5Latinreferōto bear, bring, drive, or carry back, off, or away
6Latinrĕ-back, backwards
7Latinprōdūcōto lead or bring forth, forward or out
8Latinprō-forward direction, forward movement
9Proto-Italic*pro-pro- see the Latin entry for further meanings
10Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-toward, forward
11Proto-Indo-Europeanpor-to give birth; forward, through; going, passage
12Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
13Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

via English grid

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishgridA rectangular array of squares or rectangles of...
2EnglishgriddleA stone or metal flat plate or surface on which...
3Middle EnglishgridilAn iron grate or grid
4Anglo-NormangredilAlternative form of greil
5Old Frenchgreïlgrill (usually metal mesh suitable for being exposed to fire)
6Old Frenchgraïllegrate, grating
7Occitangralhacrow
8Vulgar Latingracla
9Latingrācula(female) jackdaw (Coloeus monedula)
10Latin-asuffixed to the roots of verbs, forms agent...
11Proto-ItalicForms masculine agent nouns from prefixed or compounded bases
12Proto-Indo-European-éh₂
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós