| 1 | Old French | distinguer | — |
| 2 | Latin | distinguo | I distinguish, separate, divide or part; I adorn... |
| 3 | Latin | dis- | asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;... |
| 4 | Latin | calceus | shoe |
| 5 | Latin | calx | limestone; chalk; the finish line |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | χάλιξ | small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble |