The noun αχυρον (achuron) describes the worthless residue of the flour grinding process: chaff, husks and so on, or in rare occasions, the slag left over from gold smelting (Matthew 3:12 and Luke 3:17 only). In the classics, this word normally occurs in plural: αχυρα (achura), but not so in the New Testament. Noun αχυρος (achuros) refers to a chaff-heap or collection or container for milling wastes (not used in the New Testament).

Our noun αχυρον (achuron), grinding residue, is related to words like αχωρ (achor), which describes skin diseases like dandruff and scurf, and αχνη (achne), anything that comes off some surface: foam, flakes, dust (none of them used). Our English word "acne" appears to be not related to this otherwise suitable word, as it is thought to be a corruption of ακμη (akme), apex or top. Our word is also not related to the somewhat similar adjective αχρειος (achreios), useless. And neither does it relate to the familiar word αχος (achos), meaning ache, pain or grief.

Where our word does come from is not clear, as it is thought to be pre-Greek. Here at Abarim Publications we don't know either, but can't help note the similarity with the Hebrew name Achor, and hence the noun עכור ('akor), meaning trouble (and see our article on the many Hebrew roots of Greek).