egg white

Meanings

1. The clear part of an egg surrounding the yolk, which turns white when cooked or beaten.

Etymology

Probably a remodelled form of Middle English whit of an egge (“white of an egg”). Compare Old Norse eggja-hvíta (“egg-white”) (whence Icelandic eggjahvíta, Swedish äggvita, Danish æggehvide), Saterland Frisian Oaiwiet (“egg-white”), West Frisian aaiwyt (“egg-white”), Dutch eiwit (“egg-white”), German Low German Witt vun't Ei (“white of the egg”) beside Eiwitt (“egg-white”), German Eiweiß (“egg-white”).