Etymograph

English

marl

Marl comes from Old French marle, and goes back to Late Latin marga.

  1. Late Latinc. 200–600 CEmarga
  2. Late Latin, derivedc. 200–600 CEmargiladiminutive of marga
  3. Old Frenchc. 842–1400marle
  4. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
  5. Englishearliest quotation 1625marl

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Late Latinc. 200–600 CEmarga
  2. Late Latin, derivedc. 200–600 CEmargiladiminutive of marga
  3. Old Frenchc. 842–1400marle
  4. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
  5. Englishearliest quotation 1625marl

Earliest quotation: 1625, attributed to Gervase Markham, A Direction to the Husbandman: “Marle is indeed, as it is in name, the…”

Every English word from Late Latin marga

Another origin of marl

  1. Nyungamodernmaarl
  2. Englishtodaymarl

Today it means

noun A mixed earthy substance, consisting of carbonate of lime, clay, and possibly sand, in very variable proportions, and accordingly designated as calcareous, clayey, or sandy.

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

Etymograph / Late Latin marga / marl

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