in an interesting case of linguistic convergent evolution, the english words scale, scale, and scale are all false cognates of each other
scale as in „to climb“ comes from the latin scala, for ladder.
scale as in the measuring device comes from the old norse skal, for a drinking vessel sometimes used as a weighing device
scale as in the dermal plating on the skin of some fish and reptiles comes from the old french escale, for shell or husk.
Three languages enter, one language leaves.
official linguistics post