chest

Where does the word "chest" come from? It comes from Greek kístē, passing through Latin and Old English before entering English (1500s).

Chest’s story begins in Greek: kístē meant “basket, box.” A basket or box; in Dionysian mystery rites the sacred objects were carried in a covered kístē. By classical, the word had taken hold in Latin as cista. A box; the bronze Ficoroni Cista, a 4th-century BC toiletry box found at Praeneste, is a famous example. From there it passed into Old English as cest by medieval. Borrowed from Latin for a box or coffer; the Franks Casket, an 8th-century whalebone chest, is carved with runic Old English verses. It reached English by 1500s as chest. Extended to the rib cage as the 'box' of the heart and lungs, replacing 'breast' in many uses; the 'chest of drawers' dates from the 1600s. Today, chest means the front of the body between neck and stomach; a large strong box.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient kístē "basket, box", a basket or box; in Dionysian mystery rites the sacred objects were carried in a covered kístē.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · classical cista "box", a box; the bronze Ficoroni Cista, a 4th-century BC toiletry box found at Praeneste, is a famous example.
3. Stage 3 · Old English · medieval cest "box, coffer", borrowed from Latin for a box or coffer; the Franks Casket, an 8th-century whalebone chest, is carved with runic Old English verses.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1500s chest "box; upper front of the body", extended to the rib cage as the 'box' of the heart and lungs, replacing 'breast' in many uses; the 'chest of drawers' dates from the 1600s.