Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “periscope” come from?

Periscope comes from English -scope, from Ancient Greek σκοπέω, from Ancient Greek σκοπός, from Ancient Greek σκέπτομαι, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European speḱ-, meaning to observe or perceive.

periscope (English): A form of viewing device that allows the viewer...

Definitions

  1. A form of viewing device that allows the viewer...

Ancestry of “periscope”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishperiA sprite or supernatural being
2Ottoman Turkishپری—
3Persianپریsprite or supernatural being in Iranian/Persian...
4Persianپرfull; feather; wing
5Middle Persianpurr—
6Proto-Iranianpr̥Hnáhfull, filled
7Proto-Indo-Iranianpr̥Hnásfull, filled
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpl̥h₁nósfull
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpleh₁-to fill

Words derived from “periscope”

  • periscopic
  • periscopically
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pleh₁- →