marble

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromμάρμαρος
2. Latin · derived frommarmor
3. Old French · derived frommarbre
4. Middle English · inherited frommarble
5. English todaymarble

Inherited from Middle English marble, marbre; from Anglo-Norman and Old French marbre, from Latin marmor, from Ancient Greek μάρμαρος (mármaros), perhaps related to μαρμάρεος (marmáreos, “gleaming”). The forms from French displaced Old English marma, which had previously been borrowed from Latin.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 12th c. A metamorphic rock of crystalline limestone.
• from 17th c. A small ball used in games, originally of marble but now usually of glass or ceramic.
• from 17th c. Statues made from marble.