Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “screenwriter” come from?

Screenwriter combines screen with writer, ultimately deriving from Proto-Germanic skirmiz and Proto-Indo-European (s)ker-, meaning to cut or separate.

screenwriter (English): One who writes for the screen, who writes drama...

Definitions

  1. One who writes for the screen, who writes drama...

Ancestry of “screenwriter”, step by step

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 Dutchskirm—
7Proto-West Germanicskirmifur, hide, pelt; covering, shelter, screen
8Proto-Germanicskirmizfur, hide, pelt; covering, shelter, screen
9Proto-Indo-Europeansḱer-to caw, crow

Words derived from “screenwriter”

  • coscreenwriter
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sḱer- →