Old English words from Greek
6 Old English words with Greek in their history, whether borrowed directly or passed on through other languages.
butere
It is borrowed from Latin būtȳrum (“butter”), one of the early Latin loans that Durkin dates before about 650. The Latin word is from Ancient Greek βούτυρον (boútūron), which Köbler and Etymonline…
cirice
It is inherited from Proto-West Germanic *kirikā, which is from Ancient Greek κυριακόν (kuriakón, “the Lord's (house)”), from κύριος (kúrios, “lord”). The same word is Old Saxon kirika, Old High…
pise
It is borrowed from Late Latin pīsa, the Late Latin feminine beside Latin pīsum (“pea”); Holthausen derives it from the Latin plural. Durkin counts it among the Latin words borrowed early, before…
sacc
It is borrowed from Latin saccus (“sack, bag”). Durkin lists it, with the variant sæcc, among the Latin loans of Old English that name containers and vessels. The borrowing was early: Orel and…
scol
It is borrowed from Latin schola (“school”), which is from Ancient Greek σχολή (skholḗ, “leisure; school”). Durkin counts it among the later Latin loans: its long vowel shows the Latin lengthening…
torr
It is borrowed from Latin turris (“tower”). Durkin lists it among the early loans from Latin, made before about 650, and, following Frings, among the loans shared by English and the Netherlands…