splice
splice
UK[splaɪs]US[splaɪs]
v
To join the ends of two pieces of rope, film, or other material by weaving them together.
v
To join pieces of genetic material or other biological molecules together.
n
A place where two things have been spliced.
Etymology
The word 'splice' entered English in the early 16th century from maritime terminology, borrowed directly from the Middle Dutch verb 'splissen'. The Dutch term referred specifically to the method of interweaving the strands of two ropes to form a strong, continuous joint. This precise technical meaning was retained in English, first for ropes and later extended metaphorically to other materials like film and, in modern science, to genetic material. Its journey reflects a pattern where a specialized term from a trade (in this case, sailing) is adopted into general use and subsequently into technical scientific vocabulary, all while preserving its core sense of joining by interweaving.
Analysis
The word 'splice' is a simplex form. It is a loanword from Middle Dutch 'splissen', meaning to join by interweaving rope ends. Its functional role is as a complete lexical root.
Examples
The sailor taught me how to splice the two ropes securely.
The editor had to splice several film reels to create the final cut.
Scientists can splice a gene from one organism into the DNA of another.