English
limescale
From lime + scale.
Proto-Indo-European *h₂leyH- ‘to smear’
Proto-Germanic *līmaz ‘glue, lime’
Proto-West Germanic *līm ‘glue’
Old English līm ‘glue’
Middle English lyme ‘organ, body part’
English lime
Proto-Indo-European *skend- ‘to jump up, ascend’
Proto-Indo-European *(s)kn̥d-sleh₂
Proto-Italic *skand-slā
Latin scāla ‘ladder; stairs’
Middle English scale ‘ladder’
English scale
Today it means
noun A white, chalky deposit of calcium carbonate found in kettles, washing machines etc., especially in a hard water area.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / limescale