English

inkstone

From ink + stone.

A compound of ink + stone

Ancient Greek ἔγκαυστον ‘burned-in’

Latin encaustum ‘purple ink used by Roman emperors to sign…’

Old French enque

Middle English ynke

English ink

Proto-Indo-European *steyh₂- ‘to stiffen’

…

Proto-Germanic *stainaz

Proto-West Germanic *stain

Old English stān

Middle English ston ‘a stone’

English stone

Today it means

noun A stone mortar used for grinding and holding ink in the East Asian art and calligraphy tradition.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / inkstone