Where does “stepstool” come from?
stepstool (English) comes from English step, from English stepchild, from Middle English stepchild, from Old English stēopċild, from Old English ċild, from Proto-Germanic kelþaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵelt-, from Proto-Indo-European ǵel- — to swallow; swallow.
stepstool (English): A stool with built-in steps for climbing onto it,...
Definitions
- A stool with built-in steps for climbing onto it,...
Ancestry of “stepstool”, step by step
stepstool traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | step | An advance or movement made from one foot to the... |
| 2 | English | stepchild | The child of one's spouse but not one's own; A... |
| 3 | Middle English | stepchild | stepchild child of a spouse |
| 4 | Old English | stēopċild | stepchild |
| 5 | Old English | ċild | child, youth; fetus; female baby; child |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | kelþaz | fetus; newborn; infant; child |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵelt- | womb |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵel- | to swallow; swallow |
via English stool
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | stool | A seat, especially for one person and without... |
| 2 | Middle English | stool | — |
| 3 | Old English | stōl | chair, seat, throne |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | *stōl | stool, chair |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | stōlaz | stool; throne; chair |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | stoh₂los | frame, rack, stand |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | steh₂- | to stand |