Where does “skill” come from?

Skill comes from Middle English skill, from Old Norse skil, meaning a distinction or difference.

skill (English): Capacity to do something well; technique,...

Definitions

  1. Capacity to do something well; technique,...

Ancestry of “skill”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishskill—
2Old Norseskila distinction, discernment, knowledge
3Proto-Germanicskiljąseparation, limit
4Proto-Indo-European(s)kelH-to cut; to split, to separate
5Proto-Indo-European(s)kel-to bend, crook; bent, crooked; leg, heel, knee,...

Words derived from “skill”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)kel- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)kelH- →Every word from Proto-Germanic skilją →