Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “onscreen” come from?

Onscreen derives from English on and screen, with screen ultimately tracing through Japanese 音読み and Japanese 音 to Proto-Indo-European (s)ker-, meaning to cut or separate.

onscreen (English): As seen on a screen rather than in real life;...

Definitions

  1. As seen on a screen rather than in real life;...

Ancestry of “onscreen”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishscreenA physical divider intended to block an area from...
2Middle Englishscren—
3Anglo-Normanescrenfirescreen, the tester of a bed; Alternative form...
4Old FrenchescrenAlternative form of escran
5Middle Dutchschermprotective screen; protection, cover
6Old Dutchskirm—
7Proto-West Germanicskirmifur, hide, pelt; covering, shelter, screen
8Proto-Germanicskirmizfur, hide, pelt; covering, shelter, screen
9Proto-Indo-Europeansḱer-to caw, crow
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sḱer- →