thread
/θrɛd/
noun
Origin
Proto-Germanic
*thredaz — twist, strand
Overview
Meaning Now
- A long, thin strand of cotton, silk, or other fiber used in sewing or weaving.
- A sequence of connected messages in a digital forum or email conversation.
- A spiral ridge of a screw, nut, or bolt.
Literal older meaning
a twisting or turning
Language path
Proto-Indo-European → Proto-Germanic → Old English → English
Earliest form
þræd
Earliest period
Old English period
Journey
The word originates from the concept of twisting fibers together, which links it etymologically to the Latin 'terere' (to rub or turn). This concept of 'turning' or 'twisting' evolved to denote the resulting product used for fastening materials.
Evolution
- Proto-Indo-European
*tere-
“to rub, turn, or bore”
- Proto-Germanic
*thredaz
“strand of twisted fiber”
- Old English
þræd
“thread, yarn”
- Middle English
thred
“thread, filament”
- Modern English
thread
“sewing fiber or logical sequence”
Connections
Word parts
thread
root
twisted strand
Related across languages
Old High German
drāt
thread, wire
Dutch
draad
thread, wire
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.