desk English · revision 5246

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1363|origins=grc δίσκος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /desk/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|deske]], [[bor|la-med|desca|t=table to write on]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) probably from Italian desco “table, butcher's block” or Provençal desca “basket”,^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) from [[la|discus|t=quoit, platter, dish]], from [[grc|δίσκος|tr=dískos]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is a doublet of [[dais]], [[discus]], [[dish]] and [[disk]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A reading desk, lectern or study desk: 1363–64 in Barnhart, the mid-14th century in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In churches it was a sloping board for the service book from 1449.^(OED 1989) It was used for the office of a clerk or official from 1581,^(OED 1989) and figuratively for office or clerical work from 1797.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A section of a large organization, such as a newspaper's news desk, is from 1927.^(OED 1989) In Scotland the desk was formerly the part of a church near the pulpit.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1363–64 – a reading desk.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1449 – a church lectern.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1797 – office work.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1927 – a department of an organization.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A piece of [[furniture]] with a flat or sloping top for writing or working, often with drawers.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A counter where a service is given: ''information desk''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A section of an organization dealing with one subject: ''the news desk''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A [[lectern]] in a church.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dais]]

+ * [[dish]]

+ * [[disk]]

+ * [[discus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}