block etymology

Etymology

The word "block" has two distinct etymologies:

• Germanic origin:
  • From Middle Dutch "blok," meaning "log, stump, block."
  • Related to Old English "blocc," also meaning "log, block."
• Romance origin:
  • From Old French "bloc," meaning "lump, block."
  • Ultimately derived from Frankish "blokk," meaning "log."

Meaning

The primary meaning of "block" is a solid, usually rectangular mass of material, often used as a building material, a support, or an obstruction.

Other meanings include:

• A hindrance or obstacle
• A group or collection of things
• A unit of time or distance
• A type of printing plate
• A type of currency

Origin

The Germanic origin of "block" is thought to refer to the use of logs or tree stumps as building materials or as obstacles. The Romance origin may have derived from the use of lumps of clay or stone in construction.

The word has been in use in English since the late 12th century, with both Germanic and Romance forms contributing to its varied meanings.

block relate terms

• balk

  Etymology Middle English balken from Old English belcan to thwart oppose Meanin

• balcony

  Etymology The word balcony comes from the Italian balcone which in turn is derived f

• balk

  Etymology Middle English balken from Old English belcan to thwart oppose Meanin

• blocking

  Etymology The word blocking is derived from the Middle English word blocchen which i

• block

  Etymology The word block has two distinct etymologies Germanic origin From Middle

• tackle

  Etymology of Tackle The word tackle has multiple origins Old English tacel mea

• blockbuster

  Etymology The word blockbuster originated in the early 20th century to describe a large

• blockhouse

  Etymology The word blockhouse is a combination of two words Block Referring to the

• building

  Etymology Derived from the Old English word byldan meaning to build construct

• obstruct

  Etymology The word obstruct comes from the Latin word obstruere which means to bloc

• obstruction

  Etymology The word obstruction comes from the Latin word obstruere meaning to bloc

• plug

  Etymology plug verb from Middle English pluggen pluggon probably from Middle Dutch