Where does “windowsill” come from?

Windowsill is derived from English window and sill, with window coming from Middle English selle, Old Norse vindauga, and Latin cella.

windowsill (English): The horizontal member protruding from the base of...

Definitions

  1. The horizontal member protruding from the base of...

Ancestry of “windowsill”, step by step

windowsill traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English window

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwindowAn opening, usually covered by one or more panes...
2Middle Englishwindowe—
3Old Norsevindaugawindow
4Old Norsevindrwind; awry; second/third-person singular present...
5Proto-Germanicwindazwind
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂wéh₁n̥tsblowing; that which blows; the wind, air
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂wḗh₁tito blow
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂weh₁-to blow

via English sill

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsillA horizontal slat which forms the base of a...
2Middle Englishsille—
3Old Englishsylla beam that serves as a foundation or support,...
4Proto-Germanicsulībalk, bar, threshold, sill
5Proto-Indo-Europeansēl-to calm, quiet, be favourable
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂weh₁- →