steak

Where does the word "steak" come from? It comes from Old Norse steik, passing through Middle English before entering English (1500s).

Steak’s story begins in Old Norse: steik meant “meat roasted on a spit.” Related to 'steikja', to roast on a spit, and ultimately to 'stick'. By 1400s, the word had taken hold in Middle English as steike. Adopted in northern England for a thick slice of meat to be grilled. It reached English by 1500s as steak. The spelling followed 'break' and 'great', keeping the older 'ay' pronunciation. Today, steak means a thick slice of high-quality meat, especially beef.

1. Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval steik "meat roasted on a spit", related to 'steikja', to roast on a spit, and ultimately to 'stick'.
2. Stage 2 · Middle English · 1400s steike "a thick slice of meat", adopted in northern England for a thick slice of meat to be grilled.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s steak "a thick slice of beef", the spelling followed 'break' and 'great', keeping the older 'ay' pronunciation.