glass

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

Glass’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: glasą meant “glass, amber.” Roman writers recorded the Germanic word 'glaesum' for amber. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as glæs. Related to 'glow' and 'gleam'. It reached English by 1500s as glass. 'glasses' for spectacles dates from the 1660s. Today, glass means a hard transparent material; a drinking vessel.

1. Stage 1 · Proto-Germanic · ancient glasą "glass, amber", Roman writers recorded the Germanic word 'glaesum' for amber.
2. Stage 2 · Old English · 700s-1000s glæs "glass", related to 'glow' and 'gleam'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s glass "glass", 'glasses' for spectacles dates from the 1660s.