English
fusain
Fusain comes from French fusain ‘spindle tree’, and goes back to Middle French fusain.
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600fusain‘spindle tree’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentsame form‘spindle tree’
- Englishearliest quotation 2025same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600fusain‘spindle tree’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentsame form‘spindle tree’
- Englishearliest quotation 2025same form
Earliest quotation: 2025, Harriet Rix, Introduction: “By the Carboniferous period 300 million years ago, trees…”
Every English word from Middle French fusain
Today it means
noun Fine charcoal of willow wood, used as a drawing implement.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle French fusain / fusain