oak
A large hardwood tree of the genus Quercus, bearing acorns and prized for its strong timber.
Etymology
From Old English āc, from Proto-Germanic *aikō. The precise PIE origin is disputed — some connect it to PIE *h₂eyǵ- "oak" but the link is uncertain. The broader PIE word for tree/wood was *dóru, which gave English "tree" and "true" (via the concept of firmness). Oak was especially sacred to Indo-European peoples, associated with the thunder god across multiple branches.
The Journey: (disputed) → oak
*h₂eyǵ- (disputed)
*aikō
āc
oak
Cognates Across Languages
These words in other languages descend from the same PIE root (disputed). They are not borrowings but independent inheritances from a common ancestor.
| Language | Word |
|---|---|
| Greek | aigílōps (a kind of oak) |
| Latin | aesculus (type of oak) |
| Gothic | (none) |
| Old Norse | eik |
| Old High German | eih |
Did You Know?
The oak was the sacred tree of the Indo-European thunder god — Zeus's oracle at Dodona was an oak grove, and Thor's sacred tree was also the oak. The word "acorn" comes from Old English æcern, literally "oak-corn."