English
carton
Carton comes from French carton ‘cardboard’, from Italian carta ‘paper’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰer- ‘to scratch’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ǵʰer-‘to scratch’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEχᾰρᾰ́σσωkhărắssō‘to scratch’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEχάρτης‘papyrus, paper’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcharta‘papyrus, paper’
- Italianc. 1300–presentcarta‘paper’
- Italian, derivedc. 1300–presentcartone‘cardboard, paperboard’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentcarton‘cardboard’
- Englishearliest quotation 2009carton
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ǵʰer-‘to scratch’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEχᾰρᾰ́σσωkhărắssō‘to scratch’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEχάρτης‘papyrus, paper’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcharta‘papyrus, paper’
- Italianc. 1300–presentcarta‘paper’
- Italian, derivedc. 1300–presentcartone‘cardboard, paperboard’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentcarton‘cardboard’
- Englishearliest quotation 2009carton
Earliest quotation: 2009, Oliver O'Connell: “Mr Yunupingu was referred to the clinic where I…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰer- ‘to scratch’
girl, rocket, chronic, chorus, synchronous, urchin, synchronize, crony, germanium, cron, 35 more
through Ancient Greek χάρτης ‘papyrus, paper’
through Latin charta ‘papyrus, paper’
Today it means
noun An inexpensive, disposable box-like container fashioned from either paper, paper with wax-covering (wax paper), or other lightweight material.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰer- / carton