Where does “screenwrite” come from?

screenwrite (English) comes from English screen, from Middle English scren, from Anglo-Norman escren, from Old French escren, from Middle Dutch scherm, from Old Dutch skirm, from Proto-West Germanic skirmi, from Proto-Germanic skirmiz — to caw, crow.

screenwrite (English): To write for film or television

Definitions

  1. To write for film or television

Ancestry of “screenwrite”, step by step

screenwrite traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

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

via English write

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwriteTo form letters, words or symbols on a surface in...
2Middle EnglishwritenTo write draw letters on paper to form words; note the following common specialised senses
3Old Englishwrītanto incise, engrave; to scratch, carve, write; to...
4Proto-West Germanicwrītanto scratch, to carve
5Proto-Germanicwrītanąto scratch, carve; to engrave, inscribe, write
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwēr-true
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sḱer-Every word from Proto-Germanic skirmizEvery word from Proto-West Germanic skirmi