Metal
/ˈmɛt.əl/noun
A class of elements that are typically hard, shiny, and good conductors of heat and electricity.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Greek *metallon*, which originally meant a mine or quarry, so the name of the substance is tied to the place where it was extracted, not just what it was.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*meh₂-
“to measure”
Ancient Greek
Greek
metallon
“a mine, quarry, or thing extracted from the earth”
Late Latin
Latin
metallum
“metal; mine, mineral”
Old French
Old French
metal
“metal”
Middle English
English
metal
“metal; a substance like iron, copper, gold, etc.”