Origin and history of typecast

c. 1200, "throw, throw violently, fling, hurl," from a Scandinavian source akin to Old Norse kasta "to throw" (cognate with Swedish kasta, Danish kaste, North Frisian kastin), a word of uncertain origin.

The meaning "to form in a mold" is late 15c. In the sense of "to throw" it replaced Old English weorpan (see warp (v.)), and itself largely has been superseded by throw, though cast still is used of fishing lines (17c.) and glances (13c.).

From c. 1300 as "emit, give out;" also "throw to the ground;" also "shed or throw off;" also "calculate, find by reckoning; chart (a course)." From late 14c. as "to calculate astrologically." From late 15c. as "bring forth abortively or prematurely." From 1711 as "distribute the parts (of a play) among the actors." Of votes, from 1840, American English. To cast up is from 1530s as "compute, reckon" (accounts, etc.), late 15c. as "eject, vomit."

late 15c., "symbol, emblem, that by which something is symbolized, distinguishing mark or sign," from Latin typus "figure, image, form, kind," from Greek typos "a blow, dent, impression, mark, effect of a blow;" also "figure in relief, image, statue; anything wrought of metal or stone;" and by extension "general form, character; outline, sketch."

This is from the root of typtein "to strike, beat," which is reconstructed to be from a variant of PIE root *(s)teu- (1) "to push, stick, knock, beat," with derivations referring to projecting objects (source also of Latin stupere "be stunned, amazed;" see steep (adj.)).

Type was extended by 1713 to "small, right-angled printing block of metal or wood having for its face a letter or character, usually in high relief, adapted for use in letterpress printing." Hence "printed characters, characters written in imitation of letterpress printing" (1784).

The meaning "particular mode or style that serves as a guide, representative mode or structure" of some kind or class is attested by 1843, though the Latin and Greek words had that notion. In natural history, type as "a species which most perfectly exhibits the essential characteristics of the family or group," is attested by 1837.

Hence the sense of "person of a particular character," (by 1922); to be (someone's) type "be the sort of person that person is attracted to" is recorded by 1934.

"write with a typewriter," by 1888; see type (n.), and compare typewrite. Earlier type (v.) meant "typify, be a specimen of" (1620s) and "foreshadow" (1590s), a transferred sense in theology. As short for typecast, by 1933. Related: Typed; typing.