Sampling
/ˈsæmplɪŋ/noun
The act of selecting a subset of individuals from a statistical population to estimate characteristics of the whole group.
Did you know?The term 'sampling' can be traced back to medieval practices of selecting portions of food, often used in rituals to divine the favor of the gods!
Etymological Timeline
Late Middle English
English
samplen
“To take a small part from a larger whole.”
Old French
French
essample
“A model or example, something taken to represent a larger group.”
Latin
Latin
exemplum
“A sample or example, something that serves to illustrate a principle.”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sem-
“To take or receive, establishing the root concept of taking a part.”