[Origin: bef. 1000; ME baken, OE bacan, ptp. bōc baked; c. OHG bahhan, past buoh, ON baka; akin to D bakken, G backen, Gk phgein to roast; < IE alternating base *bheHog-, bhəg-]
O.E. bacan "to bake," from P.Gmc. *bakanan (cf. O.N. baka, M.Du. backen, O.H.G. bahhan), from PIE base *bhog- "to warm, roast, bake" (cf. Gk. phogein "to roast"). Baker is O.E. bæcere.Bakery "place for making bread" is from 1857, replacing earlier bakehouse; as "shop where baked goods are sold" it was noted 19c. as an Americanism. Baker's dozen "thirteen" is from 1599.
"These dealers [hucksters] ... on purchasing their bread from the bakers, were privileged by law to receive thirteen batches for twelve, and this would seem to have been the extent of their profits. Hence the expression, still in us
Bake\ (b[=a]k), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Baked (b[=a]kt); p. pr. & vb. n. Baking.] [AS. bacan; akin to D. bakken, OHG. bacchan, G. backen, Icel. & Sw. baca, Dan. bage, Gr. ? to roast.]1. To prepare, as food, by cooking in a dry heat, either in an oven or under coals, or on heated stone or metal; as, to bake bread, meat, apples. Note: Baking is the term usually applied to that method of cooking which exhausts the moisture in food more than roasting or broiling; but the distinction of meaning between roasting and baking is not always observed. 2. To dry or harden (anything) by subjecting to heat, as, to bake bricks; the sun bakes the ground. 3. To harden by cold. The earth . . . is baked with frost. --Shak. They bake their sides upon the cold, hard stone. --Spenser.
Bake\, v. i. 1. To do the work of baking something; as, she brews, washes, and bakes. --Shak. 2. To be baked; to become dry and hard in heat; as, the bread bakes; the ground bakes in the hot sun.
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Audio Help [beyk] Pronunciation Key verb, baked, bak·ing, noun 
gein to roast; < IE alternating base *bheHog-, bhəg-
