beaker

The story

1. Latin · derived frombacarium“wine vat, vase”
2. Ancient Greek · derived fromβῖκος“earthenware jug, wine jar”
3. Late Latin · derived frombīcārium“wine vat, jug”
4. Proto-West Germanic · derived from*bikārī
5. Old Saxon · derived frombikeri“cup”
6. Old Norse · derived frombikarr“cup”
7. Middle English · inherited frombekyr
8. English todaybeaker

From Middle English bekyr, biker, from Old Norse bikarr (“cup”), from Old Saxon bikeri (“cup”), from Proto-West Germanic *bikārī, from Late Latin bīcārium (“wine vat, jug”), of disputed origin. Possibly from Ancient Greek βῖκος (bîkos, “earthenware jug, wine jar”), or from Latin bacarium (“wine vat, vase”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Bieker (“mug, cup, beaker”), Dutch beker (“beaker, cup”), German Becher (“beaker, cup, goblet”), Danish bæger (“beaker”), Italian bicchiere (“cup, glass (for drink)”). Doublet of pitcher.

Words from the same roots