Where does “protractor” come from?

protractor (English) comes from English protract, from Latin protraho, from Latin prō-, from Proto-Italic *pro-, from Proto-Indo-European pro-, from Proto-Indo-European por-, from Proto-Indo-European per-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós — passed , crossed.

protractor (English): One who, or that which, protracts, or causes...

Definitions

  1. One who, or that which, protracts, or causes...

Ancestry of “protractor”, step by step

protractor traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English protract

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishprotractTo draw out; to extend, especially in duration;...
2LatinprotrahoI drag, pull, draw or bring forth or out; I bring...
3Latinprō-forward direction, forward movement
4Proto-Italic*pro-pro- see the Latin entry for further meanings
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-toward, forward
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpor-to give birth; forward, through; going, passage
7Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

via English ‐or

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1English‐orCreates an agent noun, often from a verb, indicating a person or object (often machines or parts of them) that do the verb or part of speech with which they are formed
2Middle English-our
3Old French-eorAlternative form of -or
4Latin-ator-ator, -er; second-person singular future passive...
5Latin-tor-er
6Proto-Italic-tōrForms agent nouns to verb stems
7Proto-Indo-European-tōrDerives agent nouns from verbs, denoting someone...
8Proto-Indo-European-tor-s
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tósEvery word from Proto-Indo-European per-Every word from Proto-Indo-European por-
protractor — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer