* Proto-Indo-European: The root of the word is believed to be "awg-," meaning "to lay (an egg)." This root spread throughout various Indo-European languages.
* Old English: The word evolved into "æg" in Old English, which is where the modern English word "egg" originates.
* Middle English: The spelling changed slightly to "ey" in Middle English.
* Modern English: The spelling "egg" became standardized during the early modern English period.
It's interesting to note that many other European languages also have words for "egg" derived from the same Proto-Indo-European root, such as:
* German: "Ei"
* Dutch: "ei"
* French: "œuf"
* Spanish: "huevo"
* Italian: "uovo"
This shared linguistic ancestry reflects the deep connections between these languages and their common origins.