Etymology Explorer › Old English

Where does “cell” come from?

cell (Old English) comes from Latin cella, from Proto-Indo-European ḱelnā, from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- — to cover; to incline.

Ancestry of “cell”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latincellaa small room, a hut, storeroom; a barn, granary;...
2Proto-Indo-Europeanḱelnā—
3Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline

Words derived from “cell”

  • cell
  • sill
  • windowsill
  • celled
  • cellmate
  • supercell
  • cellblock
  • photocell
  • doorsill
  • multicelled
  • macrocell
  • multicell
  • microcell
  • celling
  • protocell
  • subcell
  • intercell
  • geocell
  • picocell
  • celly
  • cellie
  • intracell
  • noncell
  • cellbound
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- →