Wordwyrt

chalk

/ˈtʃɒk/CHOK
/ˈtʃɑk/CHAHK

Meaninglimestone

Common meaning: soft white limestone

Journey through time

  1. Latincalx, calcis; calculus‘limestone’
  2. Middle Englishchalksource
  3. Englishchalk‘soft white limestone’ · today

chalk also in: calciumcalculate

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

  • UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
  • No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
  • US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
  • No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Latin calx ‘limestone; a small pebble used for counting’.

Did you know: our wording, based on Lewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), entry calx, p. 273 · dictionary scan

Roots

Related words

calciumcalculate

Building blocks are an automatic split · open in app