*(s)kel-

This is one of various roots that all in some way carry the core sense of cutting.

Notable English members of this family are:

• scalping, scalpel (from a Latin verb for cutting)
•  shelf (cut from wood)
• shield (cut from wood)
• scale (originally referred to the bowl of a scale, direct relative of German die Schale)
• skill (originally the ability to tell apart, to separate)
• half (cut in half)