ear English · revision 5245
16 Oct 2026, 02:10 by bogdan “en10k b0195: ideal … naked” current version
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+ The ear that hears and the ear of grain are different Old English words.^(Cresswell 2021)^(Barnhart 1988)
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA: UK /ɪə/, US /ɪr/^(Roach et al. 2011)
+
+ {{homograph|1|organ of hearing}}
+
+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=a. 1000|origins=ine-pro *ous-}}
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ The organ of hearing is [[inh|enm|ere]], [[inh|ang|ēare]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[gem-pro|*auzon]], the source also of Dutch oor, German Ohr and Gothic ausō,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[ine-pro|*ous-]], the source also of Latin auris, Greek oûs and Lithuanian ausìs.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988) French oreille and Spanish oreja come from the Latin diminutive auricula.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[aural]].^(Cresswell 2021)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The external ear: before 1000 in the OED.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ The ability to recognise musical sounds is from the 1520s, hence ''play by ear'' from the 1670s.^(Etymonline) The handle of a pitcher is from the mid-15th century.^(Etymonline) ''Walls have ears'' is attested from the 1610s,^(Etymonline) and ''wet behind the ears'', naive, from 1902 in American English.^(Etymonline) The compounds ''earring'' (Old English ēarhring), ''earmark'' (before 1460) and ''earshot'' (1607) all come from it.^(Barnhart 1988)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * a. 1000 – the outer ear.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1520s – an ear for music.^(Etymonline)
+ * 1610s – ''walls have ears''.^(Etymonline)
+ * 1670s – ''play by ear''.^(Etymonline)
+ * 1902 – ''wet behind the ears''.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Noun===
+ # The organ of [[hearing]] and [[balance]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # The outer part of this organ on the side of the head.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # The ability to hear or to recognise fine differences in sound: ''an ear for music''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # Attention: ''to lend an ear''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # Something shaped like an ear, such as a handle.^(AHD)
+
+ {{homograph|2|spike of grain}}
+
+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=a. 800|origins=ine-pro *ak-}}
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ The ear of grain is [[inh|enm|ere]], [[inh|ang|ēar]] (Northumbrian æhher),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[gem-pro|*akhuz]], the source also of Dutch aar, German Ähre and Gothic ahs,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*ak-|t=sharp, pointed]], the source also of Latin acus “chaff, husk” and Greek akostḗ “barley”.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) It is related to [[edge]].^(MWU 2024)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ A spike or head of corn: before 800 in the OED.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ In North America it is used of a head of maize from 1622.^(OED 1989) The verb, of corn, to come into ear, is from 1442.^(OED 1989)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * a. 800 – a head of corn.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1442 – verb, to come into ear.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1622 – an ear of maize.^(OED 1989)
+
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Noun===
+ # The part of a [[cereal]] plant, such as wheat or maize, that holds the seeds.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+
+ ===Verb===
+ # To form ears.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[aural]]
+ * [[earring]]
+ * [[earmark]]
+ * [[earshot]]
+
+ ==Usage notes==
+ A third word ear, “to plough”, from Old English erian and related to Latin arāre, is now archaic and dialectal.^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024)^(OED 1989)
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}