Etymology

cement

ce·ment
C3E1M3E1N1T1

Today it means: A powdered substance produced by firing (calcining) calcium carbonate (limestone) and clay that develops strong cohesive properties when mixed with water. The main ingredient of concrete. Full definition →

Middle English syment ← Old French ciment ← Latin caementum
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cement · noun, verb1

  1. Proto-Indo-European*kh₂eyd-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*kh₂éydeti
  3. Proto-Italic*kaidō
  4. Latincaedō
  5. Latincaementum
  6. Old Frenchciment
  7. Middle Englishsyment
  8. English todaycement

From Middle English syment, cyment, from Old French ciment, from Latin caementum (“quarry stone; stone chips for making mortar”), from caedō (“to cut, hew”). Doublet of cementum.

Cement · proper noun2

Named for its early cement industry.

Words from the same roots

Latincaementum all →

cementum

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.