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
- An earth pigment containing silica, aluminum and...
Ancestry of “ochre”, step by step
ochre traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via Old French ocre
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | ocre | — |
| 2 | Latin | ōchra | — |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | ὤχρα | pale yellow; yellow ochre |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ὠχρός | pale, sallow, wan |
via Igbo ọ́kụ̀rụ̀
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Igbo | ọ́kụ̀rụ̀ | — |
via Ancient Greek ὤχρᾱ
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ancient Greek | ὤχρᾱ | yellow ochre |