Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “keystroke” come from?

Keystroke is a modern English compound combining key and stroke, ultimately deriving from Proto-Indo-European streyg- meaning to stroke or rub.

keystroke (English): The act of pressing an input key; a keypress on a...

Definitions

  1. The act of pressing an input key; a keypress on a...

Ancestry of “keystroke”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishstrokeAn act of stroking; A blow or hit; A single...
2Middle EnglishstrokeAny striking or hitting motion; The force of...
3Middle EnglishstrokAlternative form of stroke; Alternative form of...
4Old Englishstrācstroke
5ScotsstraikA stroke, a blow; To stroke
6Proto-GermanicstraikazA stroke, line, dash
7Proto-Indo-Europeanstreyg-to strike; to shear
8Proto-Indo-European(s)ter-strong, firm, stiff, rigid; rigid, stiff; to...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)ter- →