acorn

Where does the word "acorn" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic akraną, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).

Acorn’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: akraną meant “wild fruit.” 'fruit of the open land', related to 'acre'. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as æcern. Meant the nuts of forest trees in general, the food of pigs. It reached English by 1500s as acorn. The spelling was reshaped by a false link with 'oak' and 'corn'. Today, acorn means the nut of the oak tree.

1. Stage 1 · Proto-Germanic · ancient akraną "wild fruit", 'fruit of the open land', related to 'acre'.
2. Stage 2 · Old English · 700s-1000s æcern "tree nut", meant the nuts of forest trees in general, the food of pigs.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s acorn "oak nut", the spelling was reshaped by a false link with 'oak' and 'corn'.