scissors

The story

1. Medieval Latin · derived fromscissor“tailor”
2. Late Latin · derived fromcīsōria
3. Old French · derived fromcisoirs
4. Middle English · inherited fromsisours
5. English todayscissors

From Middle English sisours (attested since 1350–1400), from Old French cisoirs, from Late Latin cīsōria, plural of cīsōrium (“cutting tool”); from Latin word root -cīsus (compare excise) or caesus, past participle of caedō (“to cut”). Partially displaced native Old English sċēara (“scissors, shears”), whence shears. Doublet of chisel. The current spelling, from the 16th century, is due to association with Medieval Latin scissor (“tailor”), from Latin carrying the meaning “carver, cutter”, from scindō (“to split”).