Filing

/ˈfaɪlɪŋ/ noun/verb

Definition

The act of organizing documents in a systematic order, or submitting official paperwork. Can also refer to particles removed when smoothing with a file tool.

Etymology

From Old French 'filer' meaning 'to string documents on a thread or wire,' from Latin 'filum' (thread). The administrative meaning developed from the practice of threading papers together for organization.

Kelly Says

Before folders and computers, documents were literally threaded on strings or wires - hence 'filing' comes from the Latin word for thread. This physical practice of stringing papers together evolved into our modern filing systems.

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