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
- The act of pressing an input key; a keypress on a...
Ancestry of “keystroke”, step by step
keystroke traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English stroke
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | stroke | An act of stroking; A blow or hit; A single... |
| 2 | Middle English | stroke | Any striking or hitting motion; The force of... |
| 3 | Middle English | strok | Alternative form of stroke; Alternative form of... |
| 4 | Old English | strāc | stroke |
| 5 | Scots | straik | A stroke, a blow; To stroke |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | straikaz | A stroke, line, dash |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | streyg- | to strike; to shear |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)ter- | strong, firm, stiff, rigid; rigid, stiff; to... |