Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “skate” come from?

Skate comes from Dutch schaats, from Middle Dutch schāetse, from Old French escache, from Frankish skakkja.

skate (English): A runner or blade, usually of steel, with a frame...

Definitions

  1. A runner or blade, usually of steel, with a frame...

Ancestry of “skate”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchschaatsskate, ice skate; stilt
2Middle Dutchschāetsestilt
3Old Frenchescachea stilt, trestle
4Frankishskakkjastilt
5Old Saxonskakan—
6Proto-Germanicskakanąto swing; to shake; to escape
7Proto-Indo-Europeanskeg-to jump, spring; to jump; move

Words derived from “skate”

  • skater
  • skateboard
  • skateboarding
  • skateboarder
  • cheapskate
  • skatepark
  • skatepunk
  • skateable
  • speedskater
  • outskate
  • skatelike
  • skateless
  • skatewear
  • skatefish
  • nonskater
  • skateboardlike
  • skatecore
  • skateability
  • Skategate
  • skatemobile
  • skateshop
  • overskate
  • fanskate
  • speedskate
Every word from Proto-Indo-European skeg- →