hoard
UK: hɔːd | US: hɔːrd
n. a secret stock or supply of valuables, money, or resources
vt. to accumulate and hide or store away for preservation or future use
The word "hoard" traces back to Old English hord, meaning "treasure, valuable stockpile." It shares roots with Old Norse hodd (treasure) and Germanic huzdam (to hide or guard). The term originally described hidden wealth, often guarded jealously, reflecting its association with secrecy and accumulation. Over time, it evolved to describe both the act of stockpiling and the stash itself, retaining its connotation of guarded abundance.
The dragon slept atop its glittering hoard of gold and jewels.
During the crisis, people began to hoard essential supplies like toilet paper.
Archaeologists uncovered a Viking hoard buried for over a thousand years.
She had a hoard of vintage postcards tucked away in her attic.
Squirrels hoard nuts to prepare for the winter months.