Protocol
/ˈproʊ.tə.kɑːl/noun
A system of rules for conduct, procedure, or communication.
Did you know?In Byzantine Greek, a protokollon was the first sheet of a manuscript roll, literally the paper attached first with glue, and that physical “first leaf” became the ancestor of our modern word for rules and formal procedure.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
prôtos + kolla
“"first" + "glue"; the root idea behind something attached first”
Byzantine Greek
Gk
protokollon
“the first sheet pasted onto a papyrus roll, often bearing an official note”
Late Latin
Latin
protocolum
“an official memorandum or first sheet attached to a document”
Middle French
French
protocole
“a draft, memorandum, or formal record”
Modern English
English
protocol
“an official procedure, diplomatic formality, or set of rules”