yolk (English)
Where does "yolk" come from?
The English noun 'yolk' descends from Middle English 'yolke'[1], which developed from the Old English forms 'ġeolca' and 'ġeoloca' meaning 'the yellow part, yolk'[1]. These terms ultimately trace back to the Old English adjective 'ġeolu' meaning 'yellow'[1]. Through the Germanic language family, 'ġeolu' derived from Proto-Germanic '*gelwaz' and Proto-West Germanic '*gelu'[2]. Going even further back, the word connects to the Proto-Indo-European root '*ǵʰelh₃-' meaning 'green, yellow'[2].
Open questions
- The Proto-Indo-European root '*ǵʰelh₃-' is a reconstructed form. [2]
Full etymology tree
- yolk (English), 'The yellow, spherical part of an egg that is surrounded by the white albumen, and serves as nutriment for the growing young.'
- inherited yolke (Middle English), 'alternative form of yelke'
- inherited geolca (Old English), 'alternative form of ġeoloca'
- derived geolu (Old English), 'yellow'
- inherited *gelu (Proto-West Germanic), 'yellow'
- inherited *gelwaz (Proto-Germanic), 'yellow'
- inherited *ǵʰelh₃- (Proto-Indo-European), 'green, yellow'
- inherited *gelwaz (Proto-Germanic), 'yellow'
- inherited *gelu (Proto-West Germanic), 'yellow'
- derived geolu (Old English), 'yellow'
- inherited geolca (Old English), 'alternative form of ġeoloca'
- inherited yolke (Middle English), 'alternative form of yelke'
Ancestors
- *ǵʰelh₃- (Proto-Indo-European)
- yolke (Middle English)
- geolca (Old English)
Descendants and derived words
- egg yolk (English)
- yolkless (English)
- yolk plug (English)
- yolk sac (English)
Sources
Updated September 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris