starch etymology

Etymology

The word "starch" is derived from the Old English word "stearc," which means "stiff" or "hard."

Meaning

Starch is a complex carbohydrate consisting of a large number of glucose units linked together. It is a white, powdery substance that is insoluble in water but swells when heated in water. Starch is used as a thickening agent in cooking and as a binding agent in adhesives.

Origin

Starch has been used as a food source for thousands of years. The earliest evidence of starch use dates back to the Paleolithic era, when people cooked roots and tubers that contained starch. Starch was also used in ancient China and Egypt for making paper and textiles.

starch relate terms

  • starchy

    Etymology The word starchy is derived from the following Old French estarchier t

  • starch

    Etymology The word starch is derived from the Old English word stearc which means s

  • cholesterol

    Etymology and Meaning The term cholesterol is derived from the Greek words chole χ

  • redstart

    Etymology of Redstart The name redstart is derived from two Old English words r

  • starch

    Etymology The word starch is derived from the Old English word stearc which means s

  • stare

    Etymology The word stare comes from the Old English word starian which itself is der

  • start

    Etymology The word start has multiple etymologies depending on its usage Meaning

  • startle

    Etymology Middle English starten from Old English steortan to start leap rear up

  • starve

    Etymology of Starve Old English steorfan to die Proto Germanic sterban Indo Europ

  • stere

    Etymology and Meaning Stereo Derived from the Greek word stereos which means soli

  • stern

    Etymology Stern comes from the Old English word steorra which means star Meanin

  • stork

    Etymology Old English storc Proto West Germanic storkaz Proto Germanic sturkaz Pro

  • strut

    Etymology Middle English strutte from Old English strutian to rove about ramble G

  • torpedo

    Etymology The word torpedo comes from the Latin word torpedo which means numbness

  • torpid

    Etymology The word torpid comes from the Latin word torpēre which means to be numb

  • torpor

    Etymology The word torpor originates from the Latin word torpere which means to be

  • amyl

    Etymology The word amyl is derived from the Greek word amylon meaning starch Me

  • grouch

    Etymology The word grouch comes from the German word gruggen meaning to grunt or g

  • malt

    Etymology The word malt comes from the Old English word mealt which is derived from

  • corn

    Etymology of Corn The word corn has a complex etymology that has evolved over time

  • preparation

    Etymology The word preparation comes from the Latin word praeparare which means to

  • anomic

    Etymology Anomic From Greek anomia meaning lawlessness or absence of law Mea

  • flamboyant

    Etymology The word flamboyant is derived from the Old French word flamboier meaning

  • Memphis

    Etymology and Meaning The name Memphis originates from the ancient Egyptian word Men n

  • face

    Etymology The word face comes from the Middle English word face which in turn derive

  • curious

    Curious Etymology Middle English curious from Old French curious from Latin cur