ash
UK: æʃ | US: æʃ
n. 1. The powdery residue left after burning a substance.
n. 2. (plural) The remains of a human body after cremation.
n. 3. A tree of the olive family, or its wood.
The word "ash" traces back to Old English æsce, meaning "powdery residue from fire." This term is rooted in Proto-Germanic askōn, shared across Germanic languages (e.g., German Asche, Dutch as). The tree name "ash" (Old English æsc) is unrelated etymologically, deriving from Proto-Indo-European h₃es- ("to burn," referencing its use in fire-making). The dual meanings evolved separately but converged in modern English spelling.
The campfire reduced the logs to gray ash.
She scattered her grandfather’s ashes in the ocean.
The baseball bat was made of sturdy ash wood.
Volcanic ash covered the nearby villages.
The artist used charcoal and ash to create the painting.