English
cursor
Cursor comes from Latin cursor ‘runner’, from currō ‘run’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ḱers-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ḱers-‘to run’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*ḱr̥s-é-tireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*korzō‘to run’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcurrō‘run’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcursor‘runner’
- Englishearliest quotation 1679same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ḱers-‘to run’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*ḱr̥s-é-tireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*korzō‘to run’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcurrō‘run’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcursor‘runner’
- Englishearliest quotation 1679same form
Earliest quotation: 1679, Roger Palmer, The English globe being a stabil and immobil one: “Besides, the Reader must know, if a Brazen graduated…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *ḱers- ‘to run’
career, charge, carry, rush, carrier, cargo, hurry, carriage, occurrence, chariot, intercourse, carousel, caricature, recourse, corral, hurrah, recursive, carrack, 36 more
through Proto-Italic *korzō ‘to run’
corridor, courier, discourse, concurrent, recurrent, concourse, incursion, recursion, 20 more
through Latin currō ‘run’
course, current, currency, occur, curriculum, incur, concur, corsair, courant, hussar, recur, succour, 26 more
Today it means
noun A part of any of several scientific or measuring instruments that moves back and forth to indicate a position.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *ḱers- / cursor