nest egg
/ˈnɛst ˌɛɡ/
noun
Origin
English
nest + egg — a decoy egg to encourage egg-laying
Overview
Meaning Now
- A sum of money saved or kept for the future, especially for retirement.
- An artificial egg placed in a nest to induce a hen to lay eggs in that specific location.
Literal older meaning
An egg left in a nest to encourage a bird to continue laying there.
Language path
Old English → Middle English → English
Earliest form
nest-egg
Earliest period
17th century
Journey
The term originated from the farming practice of placing a piece of porcelain or a real egg in a chicken's nest. This served as a visual cue to the hen, encouraging her to lay eggs in that spot, effectively 'starting' the clutch. By the 1800s, the term was applied metaphorically to financial savings that act as a foundation for further growth.
Evolution
- Old English
nest + æg
“bird's bed + unfertilized reproductive body”
Original Germanic components
- 17th century
nest-egg
“a real or imitation egg placed in a nest to encourage a hen”
First recorded usage of the compound
- 19th century
nest egg
“a reserve of money”
Metaphorical extension from the idea of something that encourages growth or accumulation
Connections
Word parts
nest
root
structure built by birds
egg
root
reproductive body
Related across languages
German
Nestei
nest egg
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Related to nest egg
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.