The term scissors has a long history, with its earliest English usage dating back to 1425 when it was spelled as cysour. Over the years, the word has undergone various spellings, with some common variations being sissars, sesours, sisours, sissers, cizzars, cyssers, and scizzors. The sc- formation came about due to a connection with the Latin word scissor, which referred to butchers or gladiators known for cutting. Originally used in the plural form since the thirteenth century, scissors is derived from the Old French cisoires, meaning “shears”. This French term is believed to have roots in the Latin word caesus, the past participle of the verb caedere meaning “to cut”. The Latin caedere can be traced back to the Proto-Italic word kaido and the Proto-Indo-European word keyhd, both also signifying “to cut”. Interestingly, the term for the swimming kick is a more recent addition, dating back to 1902.
