Where does “softphone” come from?

softphone (English) comes from English phone, from English telephone, from French téléphone, from French télé-, from Ancient Greek τῆλε, from Latin commūnicāre, from Latin commūnis, from Old Latin com(m)oinis — to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

softphone (English): A software program for making telephone calls...

Definitions

  1. A software program for making telephone calls...

Ancestry of “softphone”, step by step

softphone traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English phone

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishphoneA device for transmitting conversations and other...
2EnglishtelephoneA telecommunication device used for two-way...
3Frenchtéléphonetelephone; first-person singular present...
4Frenchtélé-tele-
5Ancient Greekτῆλεfar off, afar, far away
6Latincommūnicāre
7Latincommūniscommon, commonplace, ordinary, general, universal, shared, shared alike, of both sides, belonging to two or more together
8Old Latincom(m)oinis
9Proto-Italickommoiniscommon
10Proto-Indo-Europeanḱom-moy-ni-held in common
11Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
12Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
13Middle Englishkyt
14Germankittputty certain kinds of cement used for fixing e.g. window panes
15Old High Germankuti
16Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
17Proto-Germanickweduzresin
18Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
19Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

via English software

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsoftwareEncoded computer instructions, usually...
2English-wareUsed to form nouns denoting, collectively, items...
3Middle EnglishwareAlternative form of veir; Alternative form of...
4Old Englishwærcautious, on guard, watching out for something;...
5Proto-West Germanicwārtrue, reliable
6Proto-Germanicwēraztrue; reliable; friendly; kind
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanwiHrósman; husband; warrior, hero
8Proto-Indo-Europeanweyh₁-to chase, pursue; to suppress, persecute
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū-