split

Where does the word "split" come from? It comes from Dutch splitten, passing through English before entering English (1700s onward).

Split’s story begins in Dutch: splitten meant “to split, divide.” Low Germanic verb for breaking something into parts, likely spread through sailors and shipbuilders. By 1580s, the word had taken hold in English as split. Borrowed as a nautical and general term for breaking apart. It reached English by 1700s onward as split. Extended to dividing shares, and later to separating or leaving. Today, split means to divide into parts, or a division or separation.

1. Stage 1 · Dutch · medieval splitten "to split, divide", Low Germanic verb for breaking something into parts, likely spread through sailors and shipbuilders.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1580s split "to break or divide by force", borrowed as a nautical and general term for breaking apart.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1700s onward split "to divide into parts, or to separate", extended to dividing shares, and later to separating or leaving.