easel

The story

1. Latin · derived fromasellus“young ass or small donkey”
2. Proto-West Germanic · derived from*asil
3. Middle Dutch · derived fromesel“donkey”
4. Dutch · borrowed fromezel“donkey; easel”
5. English todayeasel

Borrowed from Dutch ezel (“donkey; easel”), from Middle Dutch esel (“donkey”), from Proto-West Germanic *asil, from Latin asellus (“young ass or small donkey”), diminutive of asinus (“ass, donkey”), ultimately from an unknown source in Asia Minor. Essentially, the stand that a painting is placed on is being likened to a donkey carrying a burden; compare horse (“a frame with legs used to support something”), as in clotheshorse and sawhorse.