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Origin and history of stochastic

stochastic(adj.)

1660s, "pertaining to conjecture," from Greek stokhastikos "able to guess, conjecturing," from stokhazesthai "to guess, aim at, conjecture," from stokhos "a guess, aim, fixed target, erected pillar for archers to shoot at," which is perhaps from PIE *stogh-, variant of root *stegh- "to stick, prick, sting."

The sense in statistics of "randomly determined, based on the theory of probability" is by 1923 (in stochastical), from German stochastik (1917).

also from 1660s

Entries linking to stochastic

*stegh-

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to stick, prick, sting." It might form all or part of: stag; sting; stochastic.

It might also be the source of: Greek stokhos "fixed target, erected pillar for archers to shoot at;" Lithuanian stagaras "long, thin stalk of a plant;" Old English stagga "stag," stingan "to sting;" Old Danish stag "point;" Old Norse stong "stick, pole."

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