1.耳、PIE*ous, earから、さらにPIE*au, perceptionから、auricle, audit, aestheteから。
2.麦の穂、ac, point, thornから;acid, acumenから。
te harde harte of man, tat lat in godis word atte ton ere & vt atte totir. [sermon, c. 1250]In music, "capability to learn and reproduce by hearing," 1520s, hence play by ear (1670s). The belief that itching or burning ears means someone is talking about you is mentioned in Pliny's "Natural History" (77 C.E.). Until at least the 1880s, even some medical men still believed piercing the ear lobes improved one's eyesight. Meaning "handle of a pitcher" is mid-15c. (but compare Old English earde "having a handle"). To be wet behind the ears "naive" is from 1902, American English. Phrase walls have ears attested from 1610s. French orielle, Spanish oreja are from Latin auricula (Medieval Latin oricula), diminutive of auris.