file
- file
{{11}}file (n.1) 1520s, "string or wire on which documents are strung," from Fr. file "row," from M.Fr. filer (see FILE (Cf. file) (v.)). The meaning "arranged collection of papers" is from 1620s; computer sense is from 1954. The military sense "line or row of men" (1590s) is from the French verb in the sense of "spin out (thread); march in file."
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file (
n.2) metal tool,
O.E. feol (
Mercian fil), from
P.Gmc. *finkhlo (
Cf. O.S.,
O.H.G. fila,
M.Du. vile,
Du. vijl,
Ger. Feile), probably from
PIE *peig- "
to cut, mark by incision" (
Cf. Skt. pimsati "
hews out, carves,"
L. pingere "
to paint,"
O.C.S. pila "
file, saw,"
Lith. pela "
file;" see
PAINT (
Cf. paint)). The verb in this sense is from early 13c., from
O.E. filian. Related:
Filed;
filing.
{{12}}file (v.) "to place (papers) in consecutive order for future reference," mid-15c., from M.Fr. filer "string documents on a wire for preservation or reference," from fil "thread, string" (12c.), from L. filum "a thread, string," from PIE *gwhis-lom (Cf. Armenian jil "sinew, string, line," Lith. gysla "vein, sinew," O.C.S. zila "vein"), from root *gwhi- "thread, tendon." The notion is of documents hung up on a line.
File (filacium) is a threed or wyer, whereon writs, or other exhibits in courts, are fastened for the better keeping of them. [Cowel, “The Interpreter,” 1607]
Methods have become more sophisticated, but the word has stuck. Related: Filed; filing.
Etymology dictionary.
2014.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
file — file … Dictionnaire des rimes
filé — filé … Dictionnaire des rimes
file — [ fil ] n. f. • av. 1464; de filer 1 ♦ Suite (de personnes, de choses) dont les éléments sont placés un par un et l un derrière l autre (à la différence du rang). File de gens. ⇒ colonne, procession. « Barca vit avancer un des miliciens, puis une … Encyclopédie Universelle
filé — file [ fil ] n. f. • av. 1464; de filer 1 ♦ Suite (de personnes, de choses) dont les éléments sont placés un par un et l un derrière l autre (à la différence du rang). File de gens. ⇒ colonne, procession. « Barca vit avancer un des miliciens,… … Encyclopédie Universelle
File — Aktuelle Version: 5.01 (30. April 2009) Betriebssystem: Multiplattform Kategorie: Remote Access Lizenz: GPL … Deutsch Wikipedia
file — Aktuelle Version 5.09 (16. September 2011) Betriebssystem Multiplattform Kategorie Remote Access Lizenz BSD Lizenz Deutschsprachig nein … Deutsch Wikipedia
file — 1 vb filed, fil·ing vt 1 a: to submit (a legal document) to the proper office (as the office of a clerk of court) for keeping on file among the records esp. as a procedural step in a legal transaction or proceeding filed a tax return a financing… … Law dictionary
File — (f[imac]l), n. [F. file row (cf. Pr., Sp., Pg., & It. fila), LL. fila, fr. L. filum a thread. Cf. {Enfilade}, {Filament}, {Fillet}.] 1. An orderly succession; a line; a row; as: (a) (Mil.) A row of soldiers ranged one behind another; in… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
File — (f[imac]l), n. [AS. fe[ o]l; akin to D. viji, OHG. f[=i]la, f[=i]hala, G. feile, Sw. fil, Dan. fiil, cf. Icel. [thorn][=e]l, Russ. pila, and Skr. pi[,c] to cut out, adorn; perh. akin to E. paint.] 1. A steel instrument, having cutting ridges or… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
File 13 — is a euphemism for the trash can. The phrase is especially used in the U.S. military, and is less common outside of the United States. In the United Kingdom, for instance, the expression round file or circular file is more common (in reference to … Wikipedia
File — has several meanings:* Filing cabinet * File (tool) * A nail file * Filing (legal) * Filing (manufacturing process) * File (formation) Military term for a single column of men one in front of the other. See also Rank (formation) * File (chess) *… … Wikipedia
