Thursday, 10 November 2022

The German roots of the word 'cobalt'

'Cobalt' is a word borrowed from German 'cobalt'. The word entered the English language some time around 1683.


cobalt [noun] [1683]
  • a tough lustrous silver-white magnetic metallic element that is related to and occurs with iron and nickel and is used ...
  • cobalt blue
See 'cobalt' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from German.

Etymology: German 'Kobalt' alteration of 'Kobold' literally, goblin, from Middle High German 'kobolt;' from its occurrence in silver ore, believed to be due to goblins
See more loan words from 1600s.


No comments:

Post a Comment