chalk

chalk
{{11}}chalk (n.) O.E. cealc "chalk, lime, plaster, pebble," a West Germanic borrowing from L. calx (2) "limestone, lime (crushed limestone), small stone," from Gk. khalix "small pebble," which many trace to a PIE root for "split, break up." In most Germanic languages still with the "limestone" sense, but in English transferred to the opaque, white, soft limestone found abundantly in the south of the island. Modern spelling is from early 14c.
{{12}}chalk (v.) 1570s, "to mix with chalk;" 1590s as "to mark with chalk," from CHALK (Cf. chalk) (n.). Related: Chalked; chalking. Certain chalk marks on shipped objects meant "admitted" or "shipped free," hence some figurative senses. Chalk boards also were commonly used in keeping credit, score, etc., hence figurative use of chalk it up.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • chalk — chalk·er; …   English syllables

  • Chalk — (ch[add]k), n. [AS. cealc lime, from L. calx limestone. See {Calz}, and {Cawk}.] 1. (Min.) A soft, earthy substance, of a white, grayish, or yellowish white color, consisting of calcium carbonate, and having the same composition as common… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • chalk — [chôk] n. [ME < OE cealc < L calx, lime, limestone: see CALCIUM] 1. a white, gray, or yellowish limestone that is soft, porous, and easily pulverized, composed almost entirely of calcite from minute sea shells 2. any substance like chalk in …   English World dictionary

  • Chalk — Chalk, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Chalked}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Chalking}.] 1. To rub or mark with chalk. [1913 Webster] 2. To manure with chalk, as land. Morimer. [1913 Webster] 3. To make white, as with chalk; to make pale; to bleach. Tennyson. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • chalk — ► NOUN 1) a white soft limestone (calcium carbonate) formed from the skeletal remains of sea creatures. 2) a similar substance (calcium sulphate), made into sticks and used for drawing or writing. ► VERB 1) draw or write with chalk. 2) Brit.… …   English terms dictionary

  • chalk|y — «CH kee», adjective, chalk|i|er, chalk|i|est. 1. of chalk; containing chalk: »The blackboard eraser was full of chalky dust. 2. like chalk; white as chalk: »The clown s …   Useful english dictionary

  • chalk — [tʆɔːk ǁ tʆɒːk] verb chalk up something phrasal verb [transitive] to succeed in getting something or reaching a total: • The big oil companies continued to chalk up huge profits …   Financial and business terms

  • Chalk — (engl. für Kreide) ist der Name eines kommerziellen Jugendmagazins, das in Österreich an den meisten höheren Schulen gratis aufliegt. Das 52seitige Heft erreicht ca. 105.000 Schüler, neben aktuellen CD , Buch , PC , TV Kritiken und diversen… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • chalk... — chalk..., Chalk... [ç...] vgl. ↑chalko..., Chalko …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

  • chalk up to — chalk (something) up to (something else) to say that something is caused by something else. She doesn t even bother to say thank you, but I just chalk it up to bad manners and try not to let it bother me …   New idioms dictionary

  • chalk up — (something) to record something special. Many banks chalked up large profits from their loans to internet companies. Etymology: based on the idea of keeping a record on a chalk board …   New idioms dictionary

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