Before the term “cursors” became synonymous with the moving indicators on our computer screens, it originally referred to a sliding component of a scientific instrument. Its Latin root, “currere,” meant “errand boy” or “runner,” stemming from the verb meaning “to run.” This root has given rise to various English derivations: “cursive” was adopted in 1784 to describe a type of flowing script, “cursory” transitioned from “rapid” to “superficial” or “careless,” and “course” evolved from a concept of continual movement. Ultimately, “currere” can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European term “kers,” also signifying “run.” The term “cursors” is sometimes referred to as “mouses” or “mice” due to the physical resemblance of the clicking device to an actual mouse, and as “pointers” because they indicate specific objects on the screen.
