iron

Where does the word "iron" come from? It comes from Proto-Celtic isarnon, passing through Proto-Germanic and Old English before entering English (1200s).

Iron’s story begins in Proto-Celtic: isarnon meant “the metal iron.” Reconstructed root for the metal, possibly related to a word for blood or the color of rust. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Proto-Germanic as isarn. Celtic-speaking peoples of the Hallstatt culture were early European iron-workers. From there it passed into Old English as iren by old english. Descended from the Germanic root for the metal. It reached English by 1200s as iron. Settled as the modern English word for the metal. Today, iron means a strong, hard metallic element widely used in construction and tools.

1. Stage 1 · Proto-Celtic · ancient isarnon "the metal iron", reconstructed root for the metal, possibly related to a word for blood or the color of rust.
2. Stage 2 · Proto-Germanic · ancient isarn "the metal iron", Celtic-speaking peoples of the Hallstatt culture were early European iron-workers.
3. Stage 3 · Old English · old english iren "the metal iron", descended from the Germanic root for the metal.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1200s iron "a strong, hard metallic element", settled as the modern English word for the metal.