Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Tool
(1,334 words)

1. Terminology and research

The German term meaning “tool,” Werkzeug, first appeared in the 12th century; initially it was synonymous with Zeug and Gezeug [1], while in mining, tools like the hammer and chisel were called Gezähe (Mining technology). Werkzeug was and is used as a collective term, but it also refers to individual instruments. English tool is related to Old English tol (before the 12th century), from Proto-Germanic *tōwalan “implement,” from a verb stem represented by…

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Reith, Reinhold, “Tool”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 25 March 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_030295>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20220831



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