skeleton

skeleton · noun, verb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*(s)kelh₁-“to parch, wither”
2. Ancient Greek · derived fromσκελετόν
3. New Latin · borrowed fromsceleton
4. English todayskeleton

From New Latin sceleton, from Ancient Greek σκελετόν (skeletón), the neuter of σκελετός (skeletós, “dried up, withered, dried body, parched, mummy”), from σκέλλω (skéllō, “dry, dry up, make dry, parch”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kelh₁- (“to parch, wither”); compare Ancient Greek σκληρός (sklērós, “hard”).

skeleton · noun²

1. Norwegian · borrowed fromkjaelke
2. English todayskeleton

The etymology of the term is disputed between two versions. * From the sled used, which originally was a bare frame, like a skeleton. * From Norwegian kjaelke (a type of ice sled) through a bad anglicization as "skele".

Words from the same roots