Meaning
The dead protective tissue between the bark and cambium in woody plants, with suberin deposits making it impervious to gasses and water.
Etymology
Origin: Middle English
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- Proto-Indo-European *(s)kert- Proto-Indo-European *(s)kort-ek-sder. Latin cortexder.? ▲ Latin cortexder. Mozarabic *kórčo, *kórčeder.? Spanish corchobor. Middle Dutch curcder. Middle English cork English cork From Middle English cork (“oak bark, cork”), from Middle Dutch curc (“cork (material or object)”), either from Spanish corcho (“cork (material or object)”) (also corcha or corche) or from Old Spanish alcorque (“cork sole”). Doublet of cortex.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms
uncork
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 9 recorded puzzles: