Calculator
/ˈkæl.kjə.leɪ.tər/noun
A person or device that performs calculations.
Did you know?The word comes from Latin calculus, meaning a small stone or pebble, because Romans used pebbles on counting boards to do arithmetic—so the modern calculator is named after ancient counting stones.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kal-
“to be hard; stone, pebble”
Latin
Latin
calculus
“a small stone or pebble used for counting”
Latin
Latin
calculātor
“one who reckons or computes; a counter”
Late Latin / Old French
Latin / Old French
calculateur
“a reckoner, accountant, or computer”
17th Century
English
calculator
“a person who computes or reckons”
20th Century
English
calculator
“a mechanical or electronic calculating device”