door
/dɔːr/
noun
Origin
Proto-Indo-European
*dʰwer- — doorway, gate, or opening
Overview
Meaning Now
- A movable barrier used to close off an entrance to a building, room, or vehicle.
- A means of access or entry to a place or situation.
Literal older meaning
opening or passage
Language path
Proto-Indo-European → Proto-Germanic → Old English → Middle English → English
Earliest form
duru
Earliest period
Old English
Journey
The word stems from the PIE root *dʰwer-, which is related to the concept of a passage or opening. It is a cognate with words in many Indo-European languages, signifying its extreme antiquity as a fundamental domestic term.
Evolution
- Proto-Indo-European
*dʰwer-
“doorway”
- Proto-Germanic
*durz
“door”
- Old English
duru
“door”
- Middle English
dore
“door”
- English
door
“door”
Connections
Word parts
door
root
movable barrier
Related across languages
German
Tür
door
Latin
foris
door, outside
Greek
thýra
door
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Related to door
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.