English
dais
Dais comes from Old French deis, from Latin discus ‘discus, disc, quoit’, and ultimately from Ancient Greek δικεῖν ‘to cast’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEδικεῖνdikeîn‘to cast’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEδίσκος‘quoit, disc, discus’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdiscus‘discus, disc, quoit’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdiscumaccusative singular of discus
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400deis
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400same form
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form‘podium, dais’
- Englishearliest quotation 1806dais
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEδικεῖνdikeîn‘to cast’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEδίσκος‘quoit, disc, discus’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdiscus‘discus, disc, quoit’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdiscumaccusative singular of discus
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400deis
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400same form
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form‘podium, dais’
- Englishearliest quotation 1806dais
Earliest quotation: 1806, The Mer-man, and Marstig's Daughter: “[page 211] The Mer-man he stept o'er ae deas,…”
Linked words
through Ancient Greek δίσκος ‘quoit, disc, discus’
through Latin discus ‘discus, disc, quoit’
Today it means
noun A raised platform in a room for a high table, a seat of honour, a throne, or other dignified occupancy, such as ancestral statues; a similar platform supporting a lectern, pulpit, etc., which may be used to speak from.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek δικεῖν / dais