char etymology

Etymology

The word "char" has multiple etymologies, depending on its meaning:

• As a noun referring to a type of fish:

  • From Middle English "charr," ultimately from Old French "char," a noun of Celtic origin.
  • Related to Irish "cearre" (salmon trout) and Welsh "ceirw" (salmon).

• As a verb meaning "to burn or reduce to carbon":

  • From Latin "carrāre," meaning "to transport" or "to convey."
  • Later came to mean "to carry in a wagon" and then "to burn or reduce to carbon" by extension.

• As a verb meaning "to do something with great enthusiasm":

  • From the mid-20th century, possibly from the sound of a machine working at high speed.
  • May also be related to "charge" and "charisma."

Meaning

• As a noun:

  • A type of freshwater fish, particularly one of the genus Salvelinus.
  • A layer of charred residue on something that has been burned.

• As a verb meaning "to burn or reduce to carbon":

  • To scorch or partially burn something.
  • To reduce something to pure carbon through heat.

• As a verb meaning "to do something with great enthusiasm":

  • To do something with vigor and intensity.
  • To be very interested in something.

Origin

• The noun "char" (type of fish) is ultimately of Celtic origin.
• The verb "char" (to burn) comes from Latin.
• The verb "char" (to do something with great enthusiasm) is a relatively recent word of unknown origin.

char relate terms

• charcoal

  Etymology The word charcoal is derived from the Old French word charbonnel which mea

• coal

  Etymology The word coal comes from the Middle English word col or cole which in tu

• coal

  Etymology The word coal comes from the Middle English word col or cole which in tu

• sear

  Etymology From Middle English sear from Old English sær from Proto Germanic _saira_

• scorch

  Etymology Middle English scorchen from Old English sċeorċan Proto Germanic skurkj

• chore

  Etymology The word chore comes from the Middle English word chore which in turn come

• charcuterie

  Etymology The word charcuterie is derived from the French word chaircuiterie which i

• Charlotte

  Etymology The name Charlotte is a feminine given name of French origin ultimately deriv

• burn

  Etymology The word burn comes from the Old English word byrnan which means to burn

• singe

  Etymology The word singe can be traced back to several origins Old English senge

• rase

  Etymology Old English ras bald clean shaven Middle English ras bald clean shav