Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “screen” come from?

Screen comes from Middle English scren, from Old French escran, from Middle Dutch scherm, from Old Dutch skirm, from Proto-Germanic skirmiz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European (s)ker-.

screen (English): A physical divider intended to block an area from...

Definitions

  1. A physical divider intended to block an area from...

Ancestry of “screen”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishscren—
2Anglo-Normanescrenfirescreen, the tester of a bed; Alternative form...
3Old FrenchescrenAlternative form of escran
4Middle Dutchschermprotective screen; protection, cover
5Old Dutchskirm—
6Proto-West Germanicskirmifur, hide, pelt; covering, shelter, screen
7Proto-Germanicskirmizfur, hide, pelt; covering, shelter, screen
8Proto-Indo-Europeansḱer-to caw, crow

Words derived from “screen”

  • screening
  • screenplay
  • sunscreen
  • onscreen
  • screenwriter
  • windscreen
  • screenshot
  • screenwriting
  • smokescreen
  • widescreen
  • offscreen
  • screener
  • silkscreen
  • screensaver
  • flatscreen
  • prescreen
  • screenful
  • bluescreen
  • fullscreen
  • telescreen
  • multiscreen
  • rainscreen
  • greenscreen
  • firescreen
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sḱer- →