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Where does the word "scroll" come from? It comes from Frankish skrauda, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).
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Where does the word "scroll" come from? It comes from Frankish skrauda, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).
Scroll’s story begins in Frankish: skrauda meant “shred, strip.” A Frankish word related to 'shred'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as escroue. Altered in English by 'rowle', roll. It reached English by 1400s as scroll. Computer 'scrolling' dates from the 1970s. Today, scroll means a roll of parchment; to move text on a screen.
- Stage 1 · Frankish · ancient skrauda "shred, strip", a Frankish word related to 'shred'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval escroue "scrap of parchment", altered in English by 'rowle', roll.
- Stage 3 · English · 1400s scroll "roll of parchment", computer 'scrolling' dates from the 1970s.