Desk, Dish and Disc All Come From One Greek Word
A desk is a table for writing. Its ancestor is the Greek word for a thrown disc.
A desk is a table designed for writing or working at. It comes from Latin *discus*, a flat plate, from Greek *diskos*, the disc thrown by athletes. The same word gave English *dish*, *disc* and *dais* — four everyday words descended from one piece of sporting equipment, all keeping the sense of a flat surface. The earliest desks were sloped reading stands in monasteries, which is why a lectern is still called a reading desk.
- A writing table. *At my desk.*
- A department. *The news desk.*
- A reading stand. *A lectern desk.*
- Dish, disc, dais — the same root. *Related words.*
- Greek — *diskos*, a thrown disc. *The root.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | desk | A desk. |
| Plural | desks | Desks. |
| Related | disc | A disc. |
| Related | dish | A dish. |
| Greek | diskos | A disc. |
- Papers covered the desk.Furniture.
- Call the news desk.Department.
- Desk and dish share a root.Etymology.
The diskos family
- Disc — a flat circular object
- Dish — a flat vessel for food
- Desk — a flat working surface
- Dais — a raised flat platform
- All four keep the sense of flatness from the thrown disc
Medieval Latin *desca*, a table, from Latin *discus*, a disc or plate, from Greek *diskos*.
Are desk and dish really related?
Yes. Both come from Latin discus, a flat plate, from the Greek word for a thrown disc. So do disc and dais.
Why were early desks sloped?
They were reading stands in monasteries, built at an angle to hold a manuscript at a comfortable angle for copying.