Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “widescreen” come from?

Widescreen comes from English wide and Middle English scren, from Old French escran, from Middle Dutch scherm, from Old Dutch skirm, ultimately deriving from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to protect or separate.

widescreen (English): A screen with a wider aspect ratio than the...

Definitions

  1. A screen with a wider aspect ratio than the...

Ancestry of “widescreen”, step by step

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 Dutchskirm—
7Proto-West Germanicskirmifur, hide, pelt; covering, shelter, screen
8Proto-Germanicskirmizfur, hide, pelt; covering, shelter, screen
9Proto-Indo-Europeansḱer-to caw, crow

Words derived from “widescreen”

  • ワイドスクリーン
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sḱer- →