Where does “chalk” come from?
Chalk comes from Middle English chalk, from Old English cealc, from Latin calx, from Ancient Greek χάλιξ meaning gravel or pebble.
chalk (English): A soft, white, powdery limestone; A piece of...
Definitions
- A soft, white, powdery limestone; A piece of...
Ancestry of “chalk”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | chalk | chalk |
| 2 | Old English | cealc | plaster, mortar; chalk |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | *kalk | — |
| 4 | Latin | calx | limestone; chalk; the finish line |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | χάλιξ | small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble |
Words derived from “chalk”