Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “ochre” come from?

Ochre derives from Old French ocre, a word of uncertain ultimate origin.

ochre (English): An earth pigment containing silica, aluminum and...

Definitions

  1. An earth pigment containing silica, aluminum and...

Ancestry of “ochre”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchocre—
2Latinōchra—
3Ancient Greekὤχραpale yellow; yellow ochre
4Ancient Greekὠχρόςpale, sallow, wan

Words derived from “ochre”

  • ocher
  • ochraceous
  • ochrey
  • ochrous
  • ochreish
  • ochery
  • ochroleucous
  • ochroid
  • ocheraceous
  • ocr
Every word from Ancient Greek ὠχρός →