An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The → CGS unit of → energy; the → work done by a → force of 1 → dyne acting over a distance of 1 → centimeter. 1 erg = 10^-7 → joules = 6.242 × 10¹¹ → electron-volts.

See also: From Gk. ergon “work,” from PIE base *werg- “to work” (cf. Av. varəz- “to work, do, perform, exercise;” Mod.Pers. varz-, varzidan “to labor, exercise, practise;” Arm. gorc “work;” Lith. verziu “tie, fasten, squeeze,” vargas “need, distress;” Goth. waurkjan; O.E. wyrcan “work,” wrecan “to drive, hunt, pursue”).