Where does “screengrab” come from?

screengrab (English) comes from English grab, from English -le, from Middle English -el, from Old French -el, from Latin -ellus, from Latin -ulus, from Proto-Italic -olos, from Proto-Italic -elos — Forms agent nouns from verbal roots.

screengrab (English): A screenshot; To generate a screenshot

Definitions

  1. A screenshot; To generate a screenshot

Ancestry of “screengrab”, step by step

screengrab traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English grab

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishgrabTo grip suddenly; to seize; to clutch; To make a...
2English-leA frequentative suffix of verbs, indicating...
3Middle English-el
4Old French-elSuffix that usually denotes a masculine noun
5Latin-ellusAlternative form of -ulus; "forming masculine...
6Latin-ulusUsed to form a diminutive of a noun, indicating...
7Proto-Italic-olos
8Proto-Italic-elosForms desubstantival and deadjectival diminutive nouns
9Proto-Indo-European-e-lós
10Proto-Indo-European-lósForms agent nouns from verbal roots

via English screen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishscreenA physical divider intended to block an area from...
2Middle Englishscren
3Anglo-Normanescrenfirescreen, the tester of a bed; Alternative form...
4Old FrenchescrenAlternative form of escran
5Middle Dutchschermprotective screen; protection, cover
6Old Dutchskirmprotection
7Proto-West Germanicskirmifur, hide, pelt; covering, shelter, screen
8Proto-Germanicskirmizfur, hide, pelt; covering, shelter, screen
9Proto-Indo-Europeansḱer-to caw, crow
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -lós
screengrab — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer