Never Miss a word!
Kids need Science
Kids Need Science is devoted to demystifying and explaining science, technology, engineering and math words, names, and concepts. Check back often for a science, technology, engineering or math word defined and explained every day.
  • BROWSE WORDS BY TOPIC
Map MAP OF VISITORS WORLDWIDE
Tip Jar. This blog is completely self-funded and is 100% original content. Consider a small donation to help buy dictionaries and images to use on this site. Thanks!
The word sky came into English fairly early in the 13th century from the Old Norse word skiuja meaning a cloud. Skiuja (also related to the Proto-Germanic skeujam, meaning cloud or cloud cover) was related to the Indo-European bases skuggi (meaning shadow), skuggwa (meaning mirror) and (s)keu- meaning to cover or conceal. Other related cloud words were the Old English sceo and Old Saxon scio, both meaning cloud; Old High German scuwo, and Old English scua.  Clearly when early English speakers and Vikings (both nautical cultures) looked at their skies they were seeing clouds!  Photo by vsharriman, used with permission under a Creative Commons 3.0 license.

The word sky came into English fairly early in the 13th century from the Old Norse word skiuja meaning a cloud. Skiuja (also related to the Proto-Germanic skeujam, meaning cloud or cloud cover) was related to the Indo-European bases skuggi (meaning shadow), skuggwa (meaning mirror) and (s)keu- meaning to cover or conceal. Other related cloud words were the Old English sceo and Old Saxon scio, both meaning cloud; Old High German scuwo, and Old English scua.  Clearly when early English speakers and Vikings (both nautical cultures) looked at their skies they were seeing clouds! 

Photo by vsharriman, used with permission under a Creative Commons 3.0 license.

September 27, 2012
8:26 PM
62 notes
High-res
#science
#skies
#sky
#words
#english
#anglo saxon
#germanic
#norse
  1. sexy-spock reblogged this from somuchscience
  2. teenahmaria reblogged this from somuchscience
  3. somuchscience reblogged this from sagansense
  4. fire-starter reblogged this from theantidote
  5. foreverandeverandevertheend reblogged this from kidsneedscience
  6. martinthemartian8 reblogged this from kidsneedscience
  7. anythingthatmoves reblogged this from theantidote
  8. anzelhina reblogged this from theantidote
  9. thatkief reblogged this from theantidote
  10. qaoshaun reblogged this from kidsneedscience
  11. iamgbtm reblogged this from theantidote
  12. theantidote reblogged this from catherinewillis and added:
    The word sky came into English fairly early in the 13th century from the Old Norse word skiuja meaning a cloud. Skiuja...
  13. sirobtep reblogged this from catherinewillis
  14. catherinewillis reblogged this from kidsneedscience
  15. sciencemicroblog reblogged this from kidsneedscience
  16. at-the-dope-show reblogged this from sagansense
  17. pizzacop reblogged this from kidsneedscience
  18. penguinsweaters reblogged this from kidsneedscience
  19. vampirexkiss reblogged this from sagansense