Botany: General

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology Further reading

cork

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | Copyright

cork protective, waterproof outer covering of the stems and roots of woody plants. Cork is a specialized secondary tissue produced by the cork cambium of the plant (see meristem , bark ). The regularly arranged walls of cork cells are impregnated with a waxy material, called suberin, that is almost impermeable to water or gases. Commercial cork, obtained from the cork oak , is buoyant in water because of the presence of trapped air in the cavities of the waterproof dead cells. It is also resilient, light, chemically inert, and, because of the suction cup action of the cut cells, adhesive. These qualities make cork valuable for bottle stoppers, insulating materials, linoleum, and many household and industrial items.

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cork

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Copyright

cork bark of the cork-oak XIV; †cork sole or sandal XIV; stopper, prop. of cork XVI. prob. — Du., LG. kork — Sp. alcorque cork sole or shoe, of Arab. orig. (see AL- 2).
Hence as vb. †furnish with a cork sole XVI; stop with a cork XVII.

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T. F. HOAD. "cork." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "cork." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-cork.html

T. F. HOAD. "cork." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-cork.html

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Cork: The "Other" Natural Floor. Magazine article from: Flooring; 9/1/1999
	Cork Quality Council has visual grading criteria. (cork as winestoppers) Magazine article from: Wines & Vines; 6/1/1994
	Cork flooring adds warmth, quiet and durability to home $ensible home Cork... Newspaper article from: The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA); 9/29/2007