In fact, Ag is short for argentums, the Latin word for silver. The word "silver" is from the Anglo-Saxon word seolfor. The first huge silver strike in the United States was Nevada's Comstock Lode, first discovered in 1857 by two brothers who died before they could reap the benefits of their claim.

How did silver get its name?

Where did silver get its name? It comes from the Anglo-Saxon word "seolfor" for the element. The symbol Ag comes from the Latin word "argentum" for silver.

Why do we call silver silver?

Our name for the element is derived from the Anglo-Saxon for silver, 'seolfor,' which itself comes from ancient Germanic 'silabar. ' Silver's chemical symbol, Ag, is an abbreviation of the Latin word for silver, 'argentum. ' The Latin word originates from argunas, a Sanskrit word meaning shining.