English
vinegar
Vinegar comes from Middle English vynegre ‘vinegar,’, from Old French aigre ‘sharp, sour, acid’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱ-‘sharp’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱrós‘sharp’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*akris‘sharp’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEācer‘sharp, sour, bitter, pungent’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEācrus
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400aigre‘sharp, sour, acid’
- Old French, derivedc. 842–1400vinaigre
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500vynegre‘vinegar,’
- Englishearliest quotation 1841vinegar
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱ-‘sharp’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱrós‘sharp’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*akris‘sharp’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEācer‘sharp, sour, bitter, pungent’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEācrus
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400aigre‘sharp, sour, acid’
- Old French, derivedc. 842–1400vinaigre
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500vynegre‘vinegar,’
- Englishearliest quotation 1841vinegar
Earliest quotation: 1841, –November, Barnaby Rudge. Chapter 19.: “Accordingly, after a vast amount of moaning and crying…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- ‘sharp’
hear, edge, acid, hammer, egg, ear, acute, axe, oxide, acne, acetate, acupuncture, acacia, acumen, acme, paragon, acuity, hark, acyl, rosacea, roselle, 72 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱrós ‘sharp’
through Proto-Italic *akris ‘sharp’
exacerbate, acerbic, exacerbation, 7 more
through Latin ācer ‘sharp, sour, bitter, pungent’
through Old French aigre ‘sharp, sour, acid’
Today it means
noun A sour liquid formed by the fermentation of alcohol used as a condiment or preservative; a dilute solution of acetic acid.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- / vinegar