cast

Where does the word "cast" come from? It comes from Old Norse kasta, and was adopted directly into English (1200s).

Cast’s story begins in Old Norse: kasta meant “to throw.” Replaced Old English 'weorpan', which survives as German 'werfen'. It reached English by 1200s as cast. Broadened over time from throwing to assigning roles or shaping material. Today, cast means to throw something, assign performers to roles, or shape molten material in a mold.

1. Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval kasta "to throw", replaced Old English 'weorpan', which survives as German 'werfen'.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1200s cast "to throw, or to assign roles, or to shape molten material", broadened over time from throwing to assigning roles or shaping material.