Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “shelf” come from?

Shelf comes from Middle English schelfe, from Old English scylfe, of uncertain origin and meaning.

shelf (English): A flat, rigid structure, fixed at right angles to...

Definitions

  1. A flat, rigid structure, fixed at right angles to...

Ancestry of “shelf”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishschelfeA shelf or ledge; A cupboard; a piece of...
2Old Englishsċylfedeck of a ship

Words derived from “shelf”

  • bookshelf
  • mantelshelf
  • shelfmark
  • shelflike
  • shelfy
  • shelfful
  • shelfware
  • intrashelf
  • shelfbreak
  • undershelf
  • midshelf
  • shelfward
  • alongshelf
  • shelfie
  • shelfworthy
  • beamshelf
  • шелф
  • šelf
  • šelf
  • seilf
Every word from Old English sċylfe →