English
margarine
Margarine comes from French margarine, from acide ‘margaric acid’, and ultimately from Ancient Greek μαργᾰρῑ́της ‘pearl’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEμαργᾰρῑ́της‘pearl’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEμάργαρονmárgaron‘pearl’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentacide‘margaric acid’
- French, derivedc. 1600–presentmargarine
- Englishearliest quotation 1952same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEμαργᾰρῑ́της‘pearl’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEμάργαρονmárgaron‘pearl’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentacide‘margaric acid’
- French, derivedc. 1600–presentmargarine
- Englishearliest quotation 1952same form
Earliest quotation: 1952, Pretty Hostess Adds Finishing Touch: “Putting the finishing touches on her party dinner, this…”
The story
Borrowed from French margarine, from acide margarique (‘margaric acid’), from Ancient Greek μάργαρον (márgaron, “pearl”), in allusion to its pearly lustre, with the suffix -ine, influenced by glycérine (‘glycerine’). French chemist Michel Eugène Chevreul named margaric acid after its pearl-like crystallization.
Linked words
through Proto-Iranian *mŕ̥ga-ahri-ita- ‘oyster’
through French acide ‘margaric acid’
Today it means
noun A spread, manufactured from a blend of vegetable oils (some of which are hydrogenated), emulsifiers etc, mostly used as a substitute for butter.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek μαργᾰρῑ́της / margarine