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solder

Etymology and origin of the English word solder

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈsɒl.də(ɹ)/, /ˈsɒ.də/ (UK); /ˈsɑd.ɚ/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It comes from Middle English soudur,[2][3][4][5][6] from Old French soudure, soldure,[2][3][4][6] from solder, souder “to join with solder”,[2][3][4][5][6] from Latin solido (“to make solid”),[2][3][4][5][6] from solidus “solid”.[2][3][4][5] The l, lost regularly in Old French, was restored in English spelling in the 15th century on the Latin model.[3][4] It is related to solid.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

A fusible alloy for joining metal surfaces (about 1320 in Barnhart; 1374 in the OED).[3][7][4]

Semantic evolution

Figuratively the noun meant a bond or means of union from 1599.[7] The verb, to unite or mend with solder, is from about 1420,[7][3][4] and it was soon used of closing wounds (1495) and of uniting people closely (1597).[7] The OED notes that the l is usually sounded in British English but not in American;[4] Fowler, however, knew only the pronunciation without it.[4]

Timeline

  • about 1320 – soudour, the alloy.[3]
  • about 1420 – verb, to join with solder.[7]
  • 1428 – spelling with l.[3]
  • 1599 – noun, a bond or means of union.[7]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. Any of various fusible alloys, usually of tin and lead, melted to join metal parts.
  2. Anything that joins or unites.

Verb

  1. To join, mend or coat metal parts with solder.
  2. To unite or bind closely, as if with solder.

Word family

  • solderer
  • solderability
  • solderable
  • solderless
  • resolder
  • unsolder
  • soldering iron
  • solid
  • consolidate
  • soldier

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ a b c d Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
  7. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Solder.” Etymologically, 11 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/solder. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·