Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “pillowbook” come from?

pillowbook (English) comes from English pillow, from Middle English pilwe, from Old English pyle, from Proto-West Germanic *pulwī, from Latin pulvīnus, from Latin pulvis, from Proto-Indo-European pel- — to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold.

pillowbook (English): A journal-type book kept to record sexual dreams...

Definitions

  1. A journal-type book kept to record sexual dreams...

Ancestry of “pillowbook”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpillowA soft cushion used to support the head in bed; A...
2Middle EnglishpilweA soft stuffed bag; a cushion or pillow; A pad; a...
3Old Englishpylepillow
4Proto-West Germanic*pulwī—
5Latinpulvīnus—
6Latinpulvisdust, powder; an arena, place of contest
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpel-to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pel- →