Etymology Map
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Splice

2 stages from Middle Dutch to English.

Today it means to join by weaving or overlapping ends together

Where does the word "splice" come from? It comes from Middle Dutch splissen, adopted directly into English (1520s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
splissen
Middle Dutch · medieval
"to split, splice rope"
related to 'split'; sailors unravelled rope ends to weave them together
2
Stage 2 of 2
splice
English · 1520s
"to join by interweaving"
a sailors' word that later moved to film editing and genetics
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Read the full story

Splice’s story begins in Middle Dutch: splissen meant “to split, splice rope.” Related to 'split'; sailors unravelled rope ends to weave them together. It reached English by 1520s as splice. A sailors' word that later moved to film editing and genetics. Today, splice means to join by weaving or overlapping ends together.