English
stile
Stile comes from Old English stiġel ‘stile, set of steps for getting over a fence’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *steygʰ- ‘to climb’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*steygʰ-‘to climb’root as named
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*stigilō‘entry, entrance, overpass, device for climbing, stile’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*stigilu‘a device used for climbing (over)’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150stiġel‘stile, set of steps for getting over a fence’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500stile
- Englishtodaysame form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*steygʰ-‘to climb’root as named
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*stigilō‘entry, entrance, overpass, device for climbing, stile’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*stigilu‘a device used for climbing (over)’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150stiġel‘stile, set of steps for getting over a fence’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500stile
- Englishtodaysame form
Formed from sty ‘to ascend, climb’ + -le
Proto-Germanic *stiją
Proto-West Germanic *stī
Old English stī
Middle English sty ‘a pigsty’
English sty
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *steygʰ- ‘to climb’
stay, stair, sty, stoichiometric, stoichiometry, cadastral, acrostic, stich, 8 more
through Middle English stile
Today it means
noun A set of one or more steps surmounting a fence or wall, or a narrow gate or contrived passage through a fence or wall, which in either case allows people but not livestock to pass.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *steygʰ- / stile