Where does “ost” come from?
Oast comes from Middle English ost, from Old French hoiste, from Latin hostia, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European gʰóstis, a root meaning guest or host.
ost (English): Alternative form of oast
Ancestry of “ost”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | oast | A kiln for drying tobacco, malt and especially... |
| 2 | Middle English | ost | — |
| 3 | Old English | āst | a kiln |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | aistaz | kiln |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | aisǭ | fireplace |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eydʰ- | to ignite; fire |