Scale
/skeɪl/noun
A thin hard layer covering some animals or a flake or plate of material; also a device for measuring weight or a graduated measuring system.
Did you know?English *scale* for the measuring device and *scale* for a fish’s armor come from different ancient roots, which is why one traces to “ladder” while the other traces to “shell” or “husk.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*skel-
“to split, cut, peel”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*skalô
“shell, husk; scale-like covering”
Old Norse
ON
skál
“bowl, cup”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*skel-
“to cut, split; offshoot into a ladder/step-like sense”
Latin
Latin
scala
“ladder, staircase”
Old French
OF
escale
“ladder; later a graduated instrument or balance”
Middle English
English
scale
“ladder, ladder-like measuring device; later a thin plate or husk”