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