Where does “scaffold” come from?
scaffold (Middle English) comes from Anglo-Norman schaffaut, from Old French eschaffaut, from Old French chafaud, from Latin catafalcum, from Ancient Greek κᾰτᾰ-, from Ancient Greek κατά, from Ancient Greek καταστερίζω, from Ancient Greek ἀστήρ — to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth.
Ancestry of “scaffold”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anglo-Norman | schaffaut | — |
| 2 | Old French | eschaffaut | — |
| 3 | Old French | chafaud | — |
| 4 | Latin | catafalcum | — |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | κᾰτᾰ- | fully; down; denoting motion downwards |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | κατά | |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | καταστερίζω | to place among the stars; I put among the stars |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | ἀστήρ | a celestial body; illustrious person; starfish |
| 9 | Proto-Hellenic | astḗr | star |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂stḗr | star |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eHs- | to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth |