Bedrock
/ˈbɛd.rɒk/noun
The solid rock beneath soil, loose material, or other layers.
Did you know?Bedrock is a straightforward English compound, but its image is ancient and powerful: the Earth itself is imagined as having a hidden “bed” of stone supporting everything above it.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
bedd
“a bed; a resting place”
Old English
OE
rocc
“rock; stone”
Middle English
ME
bedrok
“a rock underlying soil or other material”
Modern English
English
bedrock
“the solid rock beneath surface deposits”