Etymology Map
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Scissors

3 stages from Late Latin to English.

Today it means a cutting tool with two crossing blades

Where does the word "scissors" come from? It comes from Late Latin cisoria, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
cisoria
Late Latin · ancient
"cutting tools"
from 'caedere', to cut, confused with 'scindere', to split
2
Stage 2 of 3
cisoires
Old French · medieval
"shears"
the 'sc' spelling came from confusion with Latin 'scissor', a cutter
3
Stage 3 of 3
scissors
English · 1300s
"shears"
'scissor kick' dates from the 1900s
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Read the full story

Scissors’s story begins in Late Latin: cisoria meant “cutting tools.” From 'caedere', to cut, confused with 'scindere', to split. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as cisoires. The 'sc' spelling came from confusion with Latin 'scissor', a cutter. It reached English by 1300s as scissors. 'scissor kick' dates from the 1900s. Today, scissors means a cutting tool with two crossing blades.