Английский Этимологический словарь - scheme (n.)

- 1553, from L. schema "shape, figure, form," from Gk. schema (gen. schematos) "figure, appearance," related to schein "to get," and echein "to have." Originally "figure of speech," the sense of "program of action" first attested 1647. The verb, in the sense of "devise a scheme," was first recorded 1767. Schematic is from 1701; color scheme is from 1884.