desk

Where does the word "desk" come from? It comes from Latin discus, passing through Italian before entering English (1300s).

Desk’s story begins in Latin: discus meant “disc, table.” From Greek 'diskos', a quoit or dish. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Italian as desco. Italian for a table, from which Medieval Latin 'desca' was taken. It reached English by 1300s as desk. 'dish', 'dais' and 'disc' share the root. Today, desk means a piece of furniture for writing or working.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient discus "disc, table", from Greek 'diskos', a quoit or dish.
2. Stage 2 · Italian · medieval desco "table", Italian for a table, from which Medieval Latin 'desca' was taken.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s desk "writing table", 'dish', 'dais' and 'disc' share the root.