oyster

oyster · noun, adjective, verb¹

1. Old Englishostre
2. Anglo-Normanoistre
3. Ancient Greekὄστρεον (óstreon)
4. Latinostrea
5. Middle Englishoystre
6. English todayoyster

From Middle English oystre, from Old English ostre, reinforced or superseded by Anglo-Norman oistre, which is from Old French oistre, uistre (compare modern French huître); both lines (Old English and Old French) from Latin ostrea, from Ancient Greek ὄστρεον (óstreon). Doublet of ostro (“a purple dye”).

Oyster · proper noun²

Uncertain. Perhaps a nickname for someone who cultivated or sold oysters.

Words from the same roots