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Where does the word "drill" come from? It comes from Middle Dutch drillen, and was adopted directly into English (1610s).
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Where does the word "drill" come from? It comes from Middle Dutch drillen, and was adopted directly into English (1610s).
Drill’s story begins in Middle Dutch: drillen meant “to bore, to turn.” Related to Dutch 'drillen', to turn or whirl. It reached English by 1610s as drill. Dutch military manuals also gave the sense of repetitive training. Today, drill means a tool for boring holes; repetitive practice.
- Stage 1 · Middle Dutch · medieval drillen "to bore, to turn", related to Dutch 'drillen', to turn or whirl.
- Stage 2 · English · 1610s drill "to bore; to train soldiers", Dutch military manuals also gave the sense of repetitive training.