Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “sconce” come from?

Sconce comes from Middle Dutch schans, from Old French esconce, from Latin absconsus, the past participle of abscondo meaning "to hide away," formed from ab and cum.

sconce (English): A fixture for a light; A head or a skull; A poll...

Definitions

  1. A fixture for a light; A head or a skull; A poll...

Ancestry of “sconce”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishsconce—
2Old Frenchesconse—
3Latinabsconsushidden, secret, concealed
4Latinabscondō—
5Latincondō—
6Latincōn-—
7Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
8Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
9Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
10Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
11Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
12Middle Englishkyt—
13Germankitt—
14Old High Germankuti—
15Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
16Proto-Germanickweduzresin
17Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
18Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “sconce”

  • ensconce
  • ensconcement
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →