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Today it means

brackish

slightly salty, as water in estuaries

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Where does the word "brackish" come from? It comes from Middle Dutch brac, and was adopted directly into English (1530s).

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Where does the word "brackish" come from? It comes from Middle Dutch brac, and was adopted directly into English (1530s).

Brackish’s story begins in Middle Dutch: brac meant “salty.” Salty, used for the mixed waters of the Low Countries' estuaries. It reached English by 1530s as brackish. Formed with the English ending '-ish'. Today, brackish means slightly salty, as water in estuaries.

  1. Stage 1 · Middle Dutch · medieval brac "salty", salty, used for the mixed waters of the Low Countries' estuaries.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1530s brackish "slightly salty", formed with the English ending '-ish'.

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