filing etymology

Etymology

The word "filing" has two distinct etymological origins:

1. From Old English: * "feolan" (to polish, smooth) * "filian" (to cut, rub)

2. From French: * "filer" (to spin, draw out into a thread)

Meaning

"Filing" refers to the act or process of:

• Smoothing or polishing a surface with a file
• Removing material from a workpiece using a file
• Separating documents by classification or order

Origin

The original meaning of "filing" was related to the process of smoothing or polishing surfaces. This is evident from its Old English roots "feolan" and "filian." Over time, the word came to be used more broadly to include the act of removing material or organizing documents.

The French influence on the word "filing" comes from the use of files in metalworking, where they were used to draw out metal into threads. This usage is reflected in the modern meaning of "filing" as a way to remove material from a workpiece.

Examples

• "I need to file down these rough edges."
• "She was filing the paperwork for her divorce."
• "The metalworker was filing the steel wire into a delicate chain."

filing relate terms

• file

  Etymology File originates from the Middle English word filen which itself derives fro

• filing

  Etymology The word filing has two distinct etymological origins 1 From Old English

• stuff

  Etymology The word stuff has Proto Germanic roots and is related to words like stopfen

• submission

  Etymology The word submission comes from the Old French word submissiun which is de

• smooth

  Etymology The word smooth is derived from the Middle English word smoþe which in tu

• record

  Etymology Middle English recordan from Anglo Norman French recorder from Medieval La

• charge

  Etymology The word charge comes from the Old French word carge which in turn derives

• impeach

  Etymology The word impeach originates from Old French empeechier and dates back to th

• charm

  Etymology Old French charme Latin carmen incantation spell song Proto Indo Euro

• march

  Etymology The word March has its origins in several ancient languages Latin Martiu

• lief

  Etymology Old English leof beloved dear Proto Germanic leubô Proto Indo Europ

• life

  Etymology The word life originates from the Old English word līf which is derived f