sponge

Where does the word "sponge" come from? It comes from Greek spongia, passing through Latin before entering English (1000s).

Sponge’s story begins in Greek: spongia meant “sponge.” Sponge divers of the Greek islands harvested them. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as spongia. Romans used sponges on sticks as toilet paper. It reached English by 1000s as sponge. 'sponge cake' and 'to sponge off' someone came later. Today, sponge means a porous absorbent material; to live off others.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient spongia "sponge", sponge divers of the Greek islands harvested them.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient spongia "sponge", Romans used sponges on sticks as toilet paper.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1000s sponge "an absorbent material", 'sponge cake' and 'to sponge off' someone came later.