English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology

Etymology — The origins of English words

Where do words come from? Trace the origin and history of any English word, from its Latin, Greek or Old English roots through to its modern meaning. Every etymology is sourced.

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From the Italian form of the name of Saint Roch, of obscure Germanic origin.

From "boy" plus the informal suffix "-o," often used in casual forms of address.

From Italian diva, "goddess" or celebrated female singer, from Latin dīva, the feminine form of dīvus, "divine."

Borrowed from Spanish "dinero" ("money"), ultimately from the same Latin root as "denarius".

From Old French pocher, "to put in a pocket" — the poached egg is thought of as tucked in a little pocket formed by its own white.

From French crochet, meaning "small hook" — ultimately from Old French croc ("hook"), related to Germanic and Norse words for hook or curve.

Formed from "buff" (to cushion or soften a blow) plus the "-er" ending.

Borrowed from French réactionnaire, coined around the time of the French Revolution to describe opponents of revolutionary change.

From Old English þrang, "crowd" or "press," related to a Germanic root meaning "to push" or "to force."

From hill + billy ("fellow"), a term originally used for rural mountain dwellers, especially in Appalachia.

From grouch plus "-y," first recorded around 1895 as American college slang.

From hook + -ed.

Formed from the prefix "a-" plus "glow."

From the Italian given name Guido; a doublet of "Guy."

From Latin pervasus, past participle of pervadere ("to spread through"), from per- ("through") + vadere ("to go, walk").

From egg + head, likely alluding to a bald, egg-shaped head, a stereotype once associated with scholars.

Formed from continuous plus the adverb-forming suffix -ly.

From Yiddish pots, originally a crude word for the penis, later softened into general slang for a fool.

A compound of down plus side.

From Portuguese bumba-meu-boi, from boi, "bull."

From Latin ēvictus, past participle of ēvincere, "to vanquish completely" — a doublet of "evince."

From "dumb" plus the informal suffix "-o," used to form casual or mocking nicknames (compare "weirdo," "wino").

From French escorte, from Italian scorta, "a guiding or guard."

From French décisif, based on Latin decidere, "to decide."