chalk

English

/t͡ʃɔːk/, /t͡ʃɔk/, /t͡ʃɑk/

noun
Definitions
  • (uncountable) A soft, white, powdery limestone.
  • (countable) A piece of chalk, or nowadays processed compressed gypsum, that is used for drawing and for writing on a blackboard.
  • tailor's Tailor's chalk.
  • (uncountable) A white powdery substance used to prevent hands slipping from holds when climbing, sometimes but not always limestone-chalk.
  • (US) A platoon-sized group of airborne soldiers.
  • (US) The favorite in a sporting event.
  • (US) The prediction that there will be no upsets, and the favored competitor will win.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English chalk derived from Old English cealc (chalk) derived from Latin calx (heel, limestone, lime, pebble, chalk, game counter, mortar) derived from Ancient Greek χάλιξ (pebble).

Origin

Ancient Greek

χάλιξ

Gloss

pebble

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms