silt

Where does the word "silt" come from? It comes from Scandinavian sylt, passing through Middle English before entering English (1500s).

Silt’s story begins in Scandinavian: sylt meant “salt marsh.” Probably Norse; Danish and Norwegian 'sylt' mean a salt marsh, related to 'salt'. By 1400s, the word had taken hold in Middle English as sylte. Sediment left in harbours and rivers. It reached English by 1500s as silt. Silting harbours ruined medieval ports such as Chester. Today, silt means fine sand or clay carried by running water.

1. Stage 1 · Scandinavian · medieval sylt "salt marsh", probably Norse; Danish and Norwegian 'sylt' mean a salt marsh, related to 'salt'.
2. Stage 2 · Middle English · 1400s sylte "sediment", sediment left in harbours and rivers.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s silt "fine sediment", silting harbours ruined medieval ports such as Chester.