cork

English

/kɔɹk/, /kɔːk/

noun
Definitions
  • (uncountable) The bark of the cork oak, which is very light and porous and used for making bottle stoppers, flotation devices, and insulation material.
  • A bottle stopper made from this or any other material.
  • An angling float, also traditionally made of oak cork.
  • The cork oak, Quercus suber.
  • (botany) The dead protective tissue between the bark and cambium in woody plants, with suberin deposits making it impervious to gasses and water.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English cork (oak bark, cork) derived from Middle Dutch curc (cork) derived from Spanish, Castilian corcho (cork) derived from Old Spanish alcorque (cork sole).

Origin

Old Spanish

alcorque

Gloss

cork sole

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms