oil

Where does the word "oil" come from? It comes from Greek elaion, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1200s).

Oil’s story begins in Greek: elaion meant “olive oil.” Greek, related to 'elaia', olive tree. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as oleum. Romans used it for cooking, lamps and bathing. From there it passed into Old French as oile by medieval. Olive oil was the oil of the Mediterranean. It reached English by 1200s as oil. Petroleum 'oil' dates from the 1800s. Today, oil means a thick liquid that does not mix with water.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient elaion "olive oil", Greek, related to 'elaia', olive tree.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient oleum "olive oil", Romans used it for cooking, lamps and bathing.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval oile "oil", olive oil was the oil of the Mediterranean.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1200s oil "olive oil", petroleum 'oil' dates from the 1800s.