Oyster
/ˈɔɪ.stər/noun
A marine bivalve mollusk often eaten as food.
Did you know?The word ultimately traces back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning “bone,” which is why its deepest linguistic history is about hard, protective matter rather than the sea.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₂ost-
“bone”
Proto-Italic
Italic
*ostrā
“a shellfish with a hard shell”
Latin
Latin
ostrea
“oyster”
Old French
Old French
oistre
“oyster”
Middle English
English
oistre / oystre
“oyster”
Modern English
English
oyster
“oyster”