File
/faɪl/noun
A tool used for smoothing or shaping a hard material.
Did you know?The word 'file' originally referred to a line or row, evoking the idea of order—think of the ancient ritual of aligning one's thoughts or possessions!
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dʰeih₁-
“to put, to place, a sense of arranging or aligning.”
Latin
Latin
filum
“thread, string, alluding to the idea of a line or series.”
Old French
Old French
file
“a line, row, or series, especially in context of organizing.”
Middle English
Middle English
file
“a tool for smoothing and shaping, directly from Old French.”
Modern English
English
file
“a term for both a tool and a collection of organized information.”