Etymology

erg

E1R1G2

Today it means: A unit of work or energy, being the amount of work done by a force of one dyne applied through a distance of one centimeter. Equal to 10⁻⁷ joules. Full definition →

Ancient Greek ἔργον
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erg · noun1

  1. Ancient Greek · borrowed fromἔργον“work”
  2. English todayerg

From Ancient Greek ἔργον (érgon, “work”). Doublet of ergon and work.

erg · noun2

  1. Arabic · derived fromعِرْق
  2. French · borrowed fromerg
  3. English todayerg

From French erg, from Algerian Arabic, from Arabic عِرْق (ʕirq).

erg · noun, verb3

Shortening.

Words from the same roots

Ancient Greekἔργον all →

ergonomicsergondiergismergalergo-exergonic-urgy

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.