typewriter etymology

Etymology

"Typewriter" is a compound word that is derived from the following elements:

  • Type (verb): To strike or hit repeatedly, often with a tool or machine.
  • Writer (noun): A person who writes, especially as an occupation.

Meaning and Origin

The typewriter is a mechanical or electrical writing machine that is used to produce typed documents. It consists of a keyboard with alphabetic and numeric keys, a ribbon, and a platen. When a key is pressed, a corresponding character is printed on the paper via an inked ribbon.

The first typewriter was invented in 1829 by William Austin Burt, an American inventor. However, it was not commercially successful. In 1867, Christopher Latham Sholes invented an improved typewriter that became the basis for the modern typewriter. Sholes' typewriter had a keyboard with 44 keys and used a ribbon to print characters.

The typewriter became widely used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, replacing handwritten correspondence and facilitating the production of typed documents for business, government, and other purposes. It remained the primary writing tool for many years until the advent of computers and word processors in the late 20th century.

Additional Notes

  • The term "typewriter" was originally used to refer to the person who operated the machine, but it later came to refer to the machine itself.
  • The typewriter played a significant role in the development of modern office technology, including typewriters, word processors, and computer keyboards.
  • Typewriters are still used today for certain purposes, such as creating legal documents and writing letters in a vintage or nostalgic style.

typewriter relate terms

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  • writer

    Etymology Latin scriptor from scribere to write related to scriptura writing Me

  • write

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  • Teletype

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  • tele

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  • typewriter

    Etymology Typewriter is a compound word that is derived from the following elements

  • qwerty

    Etymology Origin Q from Quill the pen used for writing W from Writing E from

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    Etymology The word platen has two possible etymologies From the Greek platos flat

  • ribbon

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    Etymology Portable adjective Meaning Capable of being carried or transported easil

  • rogue

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  • finicky

    Etymology Origin Late Middle English adjective perhaps ultimately from Frankish fini