An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A natural deposit containing a mineral of an element to be extracted.

Etymology (EN): Ore, merger of M.E. ore, O.E. ora “ore, unworked metal” and M.E. or(e) “ore, metal,” O.E. ar “brass, copper, bronze” (cf. O.N. eir “brass, copper;” Ger. ehern “brazen;” Erz “oar;” Goth. aiz “bronze;” O.H.G. ēr “ore”), from PIE
*aus- “gold;” cf. Mod/Mid..Pers. âhan “iron;” Av. aiianhaēna- “made of metal,” from aiiah- “metal;” Skt. áyas- “iron, metal;” L. aes “brass”

Etymology (PE): Kâné, from kân “mine,” from kandan “to dig” (Mid.Pers. kandan “to dig;” O.Pers. kan- “to dig,” akaniya- “it was dug;” Av. kan- “to dig,” uskən- “to dig out” (→ ex- for prefix us-); cf. Skt. khan- “to dig,” khanati “he digs”).