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Where does the word "screen" come from? It comes from Frankish skirm, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).
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Where does the word "screen" come from? It comes from Frankish skirm, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).
Screen’s story begins in Frankish: skirm meant “shield.” A Frankish word related to 'skirmish'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as escren. A panel to shield from heat. It reached English by 1400s as screen. Film screens date from the 1810s; TV screens from the 1930s. Today, screen means a flat panel for display or protection.
- Stage 1 · Frankish · ancient skirm "shield", a Frankish word related to 'skirmish'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval escren "fire screen", a panel to shield from heat.
- Stage 3 · English · 1400s screen "partition", film screens date from the 1810s; TV screens from the 1930s.