ACORN, the fruit of the oak-tree; a word also used, by '
analogy with the shape, in nautical language, for a piece of '
wood keeping the vane on the mast-head. The etymology of the '
word (earlier akerne, and acharn) is well discussed in the '
New English Dictionary. It is derived from a word (Goth. '
akran) which meant "fruit," originally "of the unenclosed '
land," and so of the most important forest produce, thc '
oak. Chaucer speaks of "achornes of okes." By degrees, '
popular etymology connected the word both with "corn" '
and "oak-horn," and the spelling changed accordingly. '
'
Initial text from 1911 encyclopedia -- Please update as needed