Where does “staple” come from?
staple (Middle English) comes from Old French estaple, from Dutch stapel, from Middle Dutch stapel, from Old Dutch stapal, from Old Swedish stapul, from Proto-Germanic stapulaz, from Proto-Indo-European stebʰ‑ — to stand still.
staple (Middle English): staple; Alternative form of stapel
Definitions
- staple; Alternative form of stapel
Ancestry of “staple”, step by step
staple traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via Old French estaple
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | estaple | marketplace |
| 2 | Dutch | stapel | pile; basis, foundation, pedestal; stockpile,... |
| 3 | Middle Dutch | stapel | pillar; foundation; market; warehouse; market |
| 4 | Old Dutch | stapal | — |
| 5 | Old Swedish | stapul | — |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | stapulaz | pillar, post; basis, foundation |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | stebʰ‑ | to stand still |
via Anglo-Norman estaple
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anglo-Norman | estaple | marketplace |
via Anglo-Norman staple
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anglo-Norman | staple | — |