English
cancellus
Cancellus comes from Latin cancellus ‘little crab’, from Proto-Italic *kankros ‘enclosure, fence’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- ‘to turn, bend’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)ker-‘to turn, bend’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*kr-kr-‘circular’reconstructedreduplication of *(s)ker-
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*karkros‘enclosure’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*kankros‘enclosure, fence’reconstructeddissimilation of *karkros
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcancer‘crab’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcancellus‘little crab’
- Englishtodaysame form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)ker-‘to turn, bend’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*kr-kr-‘circular’reconstructedreduplication of *(s)ker-
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*karkros‘enclosure’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*kankros‘enclosure, fence’reconstructeddissimilation of *karkros
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcancer‘crab’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcancellus‘little crab’
- Englishtodaysame form
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- ‘to turn, bend’
short, across, share, cross, screen, score, card, shirt, circle, circuit, crucial, curve, circulation, skirt, scare, circus, curb, scrutiny, shrine, carnival, crest, scar, corona, shear, circa, scorpion, shred, raffle, circulate, scorn, carnage, shrewd, crux, carcinoma, incarceration, shard, corolla, cirque, circulatory, crepe, 115 more
through Latin cancer ‘crab’
cancerous, canker, chancellery, 6 more
through Latin cancellus ‘little crab’
Today it means
noun A barrier, balustrade or railing, or screen, dividing the main body of a church from the chancel.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- / cancellus