Ski Means a Split Piece of Wood
Skis are long runners for travelling on snow. The word is Norwegian and very literal.
Skis are long narrow runners fastened to the feet for travelling over snow. Norwegian *ski* comes from Old Norse *skith*, a split piece of wood — the same root as English *skid* and, distantly, *shed* in the sense of dividing. Skis are far older than the sport: a ski found in Russia has been dated to around 6300 BCE, and rock carvings in Norway show skiers some five thousand years ago. The word entered English only in the 1880s, when Norwegian skiing spread through Europe.
- Snow runners. *A pair of skis.*
- To travel on skis. *Skiing downhill.*
- Skier — one who skis. *A skier.*
- Skid — the same root. *A skid.*
- Old Norse — *skith*, split wood. *The root.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | ski | A ski. |
| Plural | skis | Skis. |
| Verb | ski | Skiing. |
| Agent | skier | A skier. |
| Old Norse | skith | Split wood. |
- She waxed her skis.Equipment.
- Skith means split wood.Etymology.
- Skis are thousands of years old.History.
How old skiing is
- A ski from Russia has been dated to about 6300 BCE
- Rock carvings in Norway show skiers around 3000 BCE
- Skis were transport, used for hunting and travel
- Military ski units existed in Scandinavia by the 1200s
- Skiing as sport spread from Norway in the 1800s
Norwegian *ski*, from Old Norse *skith*, a split piece of wood or snowshoe.
How old are skis?
Very. A ski found in Russia dates to around 6300 BCE, and Norwegian rock carvings show skiers five thousand years ago.
What does ski literally mean?
A split piece of wood, from Old Norse skith, the same root as skid.