Etymograph

English

chancel

Chancel comes from Old French chancel, from Latin cancellus ‘one of the bars which, in the form of a grid’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- ‘to turn, bend’.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)ker-‘to turn, bend’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*kr-kr-‘circular’reconstructedreduplication of *(s)ker-
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*karkros‘enclosure’reconstructed
  4. Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*kankros‘enclosure, fence’reconstructeddissimilation of *karkros
  5. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcancer‘crab’
  6. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcancellus‘one of the bars which, in the form of a grid’
  7. Old Frenchc. 842–1400chancel
  8. Englishearliest quotation 1577same form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)ker-‘to turn, bend’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*kr-kr-‘circular’reconstructedreduplication of *(s)ker-
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*karkros‘enclosure’reconstructed
  4. Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*kankros‘enclosure, fence’reconstructeddissimilation of *karkros
  5. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcancer‘crab’
  6. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcancellus‘one of the bars which, in the form of a grid’
  7. Old Frenchc. 842–1400chancel
  8. Englishearliest quotation 1577same form

Earliest quotation: 1577, Raphaell Holinshed; Richarde Stanyhurst , Richard Stanihurst]: “The Citizens in their rage, imagining that euery poſt…”

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- ‘to turn, bend’

short, across, card, cross, share, screen, score, shirt, circle, circuit, crucial, curve, scare, circus, circulation, skirt, carnival, curb, scar, scrutiny, shrine, crest, circa, corona, shear, scorpion, shred, carnage, raffle, circulate, carcinoma, corolla, scorn, shrewd, incarceration, crux, carnal, cirque, circulatory, crepe, 115 more

through Proto-Italic *kankros ‘enclosure, fence’

cancerous, 6 more

through Latin cancer ‘crab’

cancer, canker, 7 more

through Latin cancellus ‘one of the bars which, in the form of a grid’

cancellation, 3 more

Today it means

noun The space around the altar in a church or cathedral, often enclosed, for use by the clergy and the choir. In medieval cathedrals the chancel was usually enclosed or blocked off from the nave by an altar screen.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- / chancel

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