Etymograph

English

stepstool

From step + stool.

A compound of step + stool

Proto-Indo-European *stebʰ- ‘to support’

Proto-Germanic *stapjaną ‘to step’

Proto-West Germanic *stappjan ‘to step’

Old English steppan ‘to step’

Middle English steppen ‘to step’

English step

Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- ‘to stand’

…

Proto-Germanic *stōlaz ‘chair’

Proto-West Germanic *stōl ‘stool, chair’

Old English stōl ‘chair, seat’

Middle English stool

English stool

Today it means

noun A stool with built-in steps for climbing onto it, used for reaching high objects.

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

Etymograph / stepstool