Etymology Map
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Sponge

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means a porous absorbent material; to live off others

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

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

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.