Chalk
/tΚΙΛk/noun
A soft white limestone used for writing, drawing, and marking surfaces.
Did you know?English chalk comes through Old English from Latin calx, meaning limestone or lime, the same root behind a whole family of words for burning stone and mineral transformation.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kal-
βto call, shout; possibly also associated in some branches with hard stone and lime termsβ
Latin
Latin
calx
βheel; limestone, limeβ
Late Latin
Latin
calcareum
βof lime, chalkyβ
Old English
English
cealc
βchalk, limestoneβ
Middle English
English
chalk
βchalk; writing chalkβ