*SET-U

English word origin

Etymology of char

Back-formation from charcoal.

5 source sectionsExtended source reportWiktionary original ↗
In this entry · 5 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Source etymology 1

Original entry ↗
verb

To burn something to charcoal; to be burnt to charcoal. · To burn (something) severely, so as to blacken it. · To burn (something) slightly or superficially so as to affect colour.

noun

A charred substance.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Back-formation from charcoal.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

{
  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "back-form",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "charcoal"
      },
      "expansion": "Back-formation from charcoal"
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    [
      "charcoal",
      "charcoal#English"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "verb",
      "glosses": [
        "To burn something to charcoal; to be burnt to charcoal.",
        "To burn (something) severely, so as to blacken it.",
        "To burn (something) slightly or superficially so as to affect colour."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "ergative",
        "transitive"
      ],
      "recordId": "46d8a79cde2e065745ae0be17697afc26f5ca9e35b86d38858119a31771b7ece",
      "rawRecordSha256": "4c41471bc42eb03951622a87817b704de1af5c228e039cdc5f6b48c735e47d2d",
      "sourceRecordOrdinal": 235410
    },
    {
      "pos": "noun",
      "glosses": [
        "A charred substance."
      ],
      "tags": [],
      "recordId": "c018b65116915de27ea2934ce2045760488bef8c59750e46a64cf7310a96df57",
      "rawRecordSha256": "34fec787c4bf914d9a9a14769f0cfa9cdfa65cd83f978c571cdcca2820427c18",
      "sourceRecordOrdinal": 235411
    }
  ],
  "omittedAuxiliaryFields": {
    "templates": 0,
    "links": 0,
    "references": 0,
    "descendants": 0,
    "lexicalRecords": 0,
    "lexicalSenses": 0,
    "glosses": 0
  }
}

Source etymology 2

Original entry ↗
noun

Any of the several species of fishes of the genus Salvelinus.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Unknown, perhaps from Celtic, such as Irish ceara (“fiery red”) (found in personal names). Or, perhaps borrowed from Middle Low German schar (“flounder, dab”), from Old Saxon skard, from Proto-Germanic *skardaz, related to *skeraną (“to cut”), referring to its shape. If so, related to shard.

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

  • Derivation mentioncearaga · fiery red
  • Derivation mentionschargml · flounder, dab
  • Derivation mentionskardosx
  • Derivation mention*skardazgem-pro
Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

{
  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "unk",
      "args": {
        "1": "en"
      },
      "expansion": "Unknown"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "cel",
        "3": "-"
      },
      "expansion": "Celtic"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ga",
        "3": "ceara",
        "t": "fiery red"
      },
      "expansion": "Irish ceara (“fiery red”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "gml",
        "3": "schar",
        "t": "flounder, dab"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle Low German schar (“flounder, dab”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "osx",
        "3": "skard"
      },
      "expansion": "Old Saxon skard"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*skardaz"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *skardaz"
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    [
      "ceara",
      "ceara#Irish"
    ],
    [
      "schar",
      "schar#Middle_Low_German"
    ],
    [
      "skard",
      "skard#Old_Saxon"
    ],
    [
      "*skardaz",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/skardaz"
    ],
    [
      "*skeraną",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/skeraną"
    ],
    [
      "shard",
      "shard#English"
    ],
    [
      "Salvelinus alpinus",
      "Salvelinus alpinus"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "noun",
      "glosses": [
        "Any of the several species of fishes of the genus Salvelinus."
      ],
      "tags": [],
      "recordId": "bae13d0e4f2cf3fc498897d05ba81680306da5e3dbad8e8a4c0e1f73737114de",
      "rawRecordSha256": "bb0de1104b17ff8ed3b6f0f7425bb00d21a9402b845bd44b820693e07c1d36ee",
      "sourceRecordOrdinal": 235412
    }
  ],
  "omittedAuxiliaryFields": {
    "templates": 0,
    "links": 0,
    "references": 0,
    "descendants": 0,
    "lexicalRecords": 0,
    "lexicalSenses": 0,
    "glosses": 0
  }
}

Source etymology 3

Original entry ↗
verb

To turn, especially away or aside. · To work, especially to do housework; to work by the day, without being a regularly hired servant. · To perform; to do; to finish. · To work or hew (stone, etc.)

noun

A time; a turn or occasion. · A turn of work; a labour or item of business. · An odd job, a chore or piece of housework. · A charlady, a woman employed to do housework; cleaning lady.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From Middle English cherre (“odd job”), from Old English ċierr (“a turn, change, time, occasion, affair, business”), from ċierran (“to turn, change, turn oneself, go, come, proceed, turn back, return, regard, translate, persuade, convert, be converted, agree to, submit, make to submit, reduce”), from Proto-Germanic *karzijaną (“to turn”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *gers- (“to bend, turn”). Cognate with Dutch keer (“a time, turn, occasion”), German Kehre (“a turn, bight, bend”) and kehren (“to sweep”) or umkehren (“to return or reverse”). More at chore, ajar.

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

{
  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "inh",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "cherre",
        "4": "",
        "5": "odd job"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English cherre (“odd job”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "inh",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "ċierr",
        "4": "",
        "5": "a turn, change, time, occasion, affair, business"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English ċierr (“a turn, change, time, occasion, affair, business”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "inh",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*karzijaną",
        "4": "",
        "5": "to turn"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *karzijaną (“to turn”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*gers-",
        "4": "",
        "5": "to bend, turn"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *gers- (“to bend, turn”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "nl",
        "2": "keer",
        "3": "",
        "4": "a time, turn, occasion"
      },
      "expansion": "Dutch keer (“a time, turn, occasion”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "de",
        "2": "Kehre",
        "3": "",
        "4": "a turn, bight, bend"
      },
      "expansion": "German Kehre (“a turn, bight, bend”)"
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    [
      "cherre",
      "cherre#Middle_English"
    ],
    [
      "ċierr",
      "cierr#Old_English"
    ],
    [
      "ċierran",
      "cierran#Old_English"
    ],
    [
      "*karzijaną",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/karzijaną"
    ],
    [
      "*gers-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/gers-"
    ],
    [
      "keer",
      "keer#Dutch"
    ],
    [
      "Kehre",
      "Kehre#German"
    ],
    [
      "kehren",
      "kehren#German"
    ],
    [
      "umkehren",
      "umkehren#German"
    ],
    [
      "chore",
      "chore#English"
    ],
    [
      "ajar",
      "ajar#English"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "verb",
      "glosses": [
        "To turn, especially away or aside.",
        "To work, especially to do housework; to work by the day, without being a regularly hired servant.",
        "To perform; to do; to finish.",
        "To work or hew (stone, etc.)"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "obsolete"
      ],
      "recordId": "c37b939c62ab4f7c61b75f29968c230e8f70a67cf9bb142569daedab3af374c4",
      "rawRecordSha256": "c076ea11a4f7c6ba5198112c07fe5120759776440807085a4dec190b5dde9708",
      "sourceRecordOrdinal": 235414
    },
    {
      "pos": "noun",
      "glosses": [
        "A time; a turn or occasion.",
        "A turn of work; a labour or item of business.",
        "An odd job, a chore or piece of housework.",
        "A charlady, a woman employed to do housework; cleaning lady."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "obsolete"
      ],
      "recordId": "ed8ba7631cf359a7426e071116c824edd95179346795e82dc8ea24563175582c",
      "rawRecordSha256": "5c27f23d7656f639e081865872178a5be39449071ce386b414d0c9a57311c7d8",
      "sourceRecordOrdinal": 235413
    }
  ],
  "omittedAuxiliaryFields": {
    "templates": 0,
    "links": 0,
    "references": 0,
    "descendants": 0,
    "lexicalRecords": 0,
    "lexicalSenses": 0,
    "glosses": 0
  }
}

Source etymology 4

Original entry ↗
noun

A character (text element such as a letter or symbol). · A character (being involved in the action of a story).

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Clipping of character. Used as the name of a data type in some programming languages, including notably C.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

{
  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "clipping",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "character"
      },
      "expansion": "Clipping of character"
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    [
      "character",
      "character#English"
    ],
    [
      "data type",
      "data type"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "noun",
      "glosses": [
        "A character (text element such as a letter or symbol).",
        "A character (being involved in the action of a story)."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "colloquial"
      ],
      "recordId": "74956e523963942fda82d3c37940b4cc3b924deea219ec09ab20e280f74507a5",
      "rawRecordSha256": "65be405eaf0afcdf7f00b4c6b66a4a1ff8bc4d0f3dc3008dd335e268f261ffc9",
      "sourceRecordOrdinal": 235415
    }
  ],
  "omittedAuxiliaryFields": {
    "templates": 0,
    "links": 0,
    "references": 0,
    "descendants": 0,
    "lexicalRecords": 0,
    "lexicalSenses": 0,
    "glosses": 0
  }
}

Source etymology 5

Original entry ↗
noun

Alternative form of cha (“tea”).

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Non-rhotic spelling of cha.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

{
  "templates": [],
  "links": [
    [
      "Non-rhotic",
      "non-rhotic"
    ],
    [
      "cha",
      "cha#English"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "noun",
      "glosses": [
        "Alternative form of cha (“tea”)."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "UK",
        "alt-of",
        "alternative",
        "uncountable"
      ],
      "recordId": "6b8bfe70667e19be7d150fe7716f3d4286caae2b23c98ee6bd5ea8dcaf2c620d",
      "rawRecordSha256": "737bdf786a6a7d978a04300bb8dc06aadf9277447e3f511d77b7a8f9d91e7b37",
      "sourceRecordOrdinal": 235416
    }
  ],
  "omittedAuxiliaryFields": {
    "templates": 0,
    "links": 0,
    "references": 0,
    "descendants": 0,
    "lexicalRecords": 0,
    "lexicalSenses": 0,
    "glosses": 0
  }
}

Where this record stops

This page does not supply an independently verified sound-change sequence, first-use manuscript or complete family tree unless a cited analysis explicitly establishes one. Missing detail here is a limit of this record—not a claim that humanity knows nothing more.

An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for char →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger
Machine-source provenance
Source SHA-256
5ff2c072f8099f2d2ce484bd6957bf179f046d2ad37bc36555edf8bb84cb5291
Import run
73216b9a9b78ed3830994bf853103716f5a4dc57099e371e9f8fdc468facca26
Permanent entry ID
w-Y2hhcg