Etymograph

English

scold

Scold comes from Middle English scold(e).

  1. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500scold(e)
  2. Englishearliest quotation c. 1515–1516scold

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

Lineage

  1. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500scold(e)
  2. Englishearliest quotation c. 1515–1516scold

Earliest quotation: c. 1515–1516, published 1568, John Skelton: “A ſclaunderous tunge, a tunge of a ſkolde, Worketh…”

first attested The noun is from Middle English scold(e), skald(e), first attested in the 12th or 13th century (as scold, scolde, skolde, skald) (as stated in the etymology)

The story

The noun is from Middle English scold(e), skald(e), first attested in the 12th or 13th century (as scold, scolde, skolde, skald).

Today it means

noun A person who habitually scolds, in particular a troublesome and angry woman.

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

Etymograph / Middle English scold(e) / scold