Yeast
/jiːst/noun
A microorganism used in baking and brewing to ferment sugars.
Did you know?In ancient cultures, yeast was often seen as a divine agent of transformation, linking it to rituals and even alchemical practices.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*yeis-
“to boil, ferment, or rise, suggesting bubbling energy.”
Old English
Old English
gist
“a fermenting agent, often associated with the bubbling of liquids.”
Old High German
OHG
gista
“a raising or fermenting agent, indicating transformation.”
Middle Dutch
MDu
gist
“ferment, emphasizing the process of rising.”
Modern English
English
yeast
“the agent of fermentation, crucial for baking and brewing.”