Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “handscroll” come from?

handscroll (English) comes from English scroll, from Middle English scrowle, from Middle English scrowe, from Old French escroe, from Latin scrofa, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kerbʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)ker-, from Proto-Indo-European sek- — to cut, cut off, sever.

handscroll (English): A traditional Asian scroll that unfolds...

Definitions

  1. A traditional Asian scroll that unfolds...

Ancestry of “handscroll”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishscrollA roll of paper or parchment; a writing formed...
2Middle Englishscrowle—
3Middle Englishscrowe—
4Old Frenchescroe—
5Latinscrofasow
6Proto-Indo-European(s)kerbʰ-to turn, curve; to turn , wind; to turn around,...
7Proto-Indo-European(s)ker-to cut off; to turn, bend
8Proto-Indo-Europeansek-to cut, cut off, sever
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sek- →