Where does “sunscreen” come from?

sunscreen (English) comes from English screen, from Middle English scren, from Anglo-Norman escren, from Old French escren, from Middle Dutch scherm, from Old Dutch skirm, from Proto-West Germanic skirmi, from Proto-Germanic skirmiz — to caw, crow.

sunscreen (English): A cream, to be spread on the skin, containing...

Definitions

  1. A cream, to be spread on the skin, containing...

Ancestry of “sunscreen”, step by step

sunscreen traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English screen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishscreenA physical divider intended to block an area from...
2Middle Englishscren—
3Anglo-Normanescrenfirescreen, the tester of a bed; Alternative form...
4Old FrenchescrenAlternative form of escran
5Middle Dutchschermprotective screen; protection, cover
6Old Dutchskirmprotection
7Proto-West Germanicskirmifur, hide, pelt; covering, shelter, screen
8Proto-Germanicskirmizfur, hide, pelt; covering, shelter, screen
9Proto-Indo-Europeansḱer-to caw, crow

via English Sun

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishSunAbbreviation of Sunday
2Middle EnglishsunneAlternative form of sonne; sun
3Old Englishsunnesun
4Proto-West Germanicsunnāsun
5Proto-Germanicsunnǭthe sun
6Proto-Indo-Europeansh̥₂uénsun; the Sun
7Proto-Indo-Europeansóh₂wl̥sun

Words derived from “sunscreen”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European sḱer- →Every word from Proto-Germanic skirmiz →Every word from Proto-West Germanic skirmi →