Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “silk” come from?

Silk comes from Middle English silk, Old English seolc, Latin sericum, derived from Latin sericus meaning "of silk," from Ancient Greek Σήρ and Literary Chinese 絲.

silk (English): A fine fiber excreted by the silkworm or other...

Definitions

  1. A fine fiber excreted by the silkworm or other...

Ancestry of “silk”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishsilk—
2Old Englishsioloc—

Words derived from “silk”

  • silkscreen
  • cornsilk
  • silkmoth
  • silklike
  • silkweed
  • silkwoman
  • silkman
  • silkworks
  • silkgrass
  • silktail
  • silkstone
  • silkette
  • silkgrowing
  • silkless
  • silkware
  • silkness
  • silkwear
  • desilk
  • nonsilk
  • silkgrower
  • silkatra
  • silko
  • silik
Every word from Old English sioloc →