Where does “helpfile” come from?

helpfile (English) comes from English filé, from French filé, from French filer, from Latin fīlāre, from Latin fīlum, from Proto-Italic fī(s)lom, from Proto-Indo-European gʷʰiH-(s-)lo-.

helpfile (English): A computer file explaining how to use the...

Definitions

  1. A computer file explaining how to use the...

Ancestry of “helpfile”, step by step

helpfile traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

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-

via English help

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishhelpAction given to provide assistance; aid;...
2Middle Englishhelp
3Old Englishhelphelp
4Proto-West Germanichelpu
5Proto-Germanichelpōhelp, aid, assistance
6Proto-Indo-Europeanḱelb-help
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷʰiH-(s-)lo-