edge-to-edge

The compound "edge-to-edge" is a modern English formation built entirely from native Germanic elements. Its core component, "edge," descends from the Proto-Germanic agjō, meaning "corner, blade," which itself derives from the Proto-Indo-European root h₂eḱ- (sharp). The construction follows a simple, transparent pattern of reduplication linked by the preposition "to," creating a spatial metaphor. This pattern literally describes something spanning from one boundary directly to its opposite counterpart. In contemporary usage, this concrete spatial sense has been abstracted, most notably in technology and design, to describe visuals or interfaces that extend fully across a available space, eliminating margins or bezels.

Structure: edge (border) + to (preposition) + edge (border) - edge: From Old English ecg (cutting side of a blade, border, ridge). Functional role: Noun root, denoting a boundary or limit. - to: From Old English tō (in the direction of, until). Functional role: Preposition linking the two identical nouns.