Threshold

Origin of: Threshold

Threshold

This word has been in existence since Anglo-Saxon times, c 900. In its original form it was ‘trascold’ or ‘trescold’ where the first syllable meant to tread or trample. According to the OED, the meaning and origin of the second syllable is not known. Threshold has always meant the piece of timber or stone which lies on the ground beneath a door and which has to be crossed when entering a dwelling. The implication is that one would tread or trample on it, stamping one’s feet to remove mud, snow etc before entering. It is related to the threshing of wheat etc in the sense that the earliest method of threshing was to stamp on dry crops with one’s feet.