cordwood
UK[ˈkɔːdwʊd]US[ˈkɔːrdwʊd]
n
Wood cut into short lengths of uniform size, especially for use as fuel.
n
Wood, especially firewood, sold or stacked in cords.
Morpheme Breakdown
cord
wood
cord
wood
Etymology
The term 'cordwood' is a straightforward compound noun formed from two English words, 'cord' and 'wood'. Its logic is entirely practical, describing wood that is measured, sold, and stacked in 'cords', a unit of volume for firewood. A 'cord' historically referred to a string or rope used for measuring, and by the 17th century, it became standardized as a stack of wood 8 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 4 feet high. Thus, 'cordwood' literally means 'wood by the cord', a term born from commerce and forestry rather than ancient linguistic evolution, directly linking the measurement unit to the material itself.
Analysis
Structure: cord + wood
- cord: From Latin chorda (string, rope of a musical instrument), via Old French corde. In this compound, it refers to the unit of measurement for stacked wood.
- wood: From Old English wudu (tree, forest, wood). In this compound, it refers to the material.
Examples
They spent the afternoon splitting and stacking cordwood for the winter.
The price of cordwood has risen significantly this season.
The old shed was piled high with neatly arranged cordwood.