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 Middle English tatered, related to Old Norse tǫturr ("rag"); later reanalysed as the past participle of the verb "to tatter."

From taste + -less.

From Italian tariffa, meaning a list of customs duties, ultimately from an Arabic word meaning notification or explanation.

Likely imitative of the sound of chewing or lip-smacking; the root of the more common form "yum" or "nom nom".

From Old French tapisserie, ultimately from Greek tapes, referring to a heavy carpet or cloth.

A shortened form of "executive" or "execute."

A shortened form of "memorandum."

From Latin custodia, "a keeping, guard, prison," from custos, "a keeper."

A blend of "federal" and "express," shortened from the company's original name, Federal Express.

From "stock" (tree trunk) plus "-y" — suggesting something built like a solid trunk.

The gaming sense is a back-formation from "inting," itself a shortening of "intentional/intentionally feeding" — losing on purpose in an online match.

From Late Middle English forms of "scurfy" (having scurf, or flaky skin), from "scurf," a skin condition causing flakes — ultimately from Old English scurf.

From Hokkien 倒 (tó), meaning "to fall down" or "to collapse."

From Latin tetanus, from Ancient Greek tetanos, related to teino, "to stretch" — describing how the disease pulls muscles into a rigid, locked state.

An English surname of Norman French origin, ultimately traced to a place name in Normandy; it became world-famous through animator and studio founder Walt Disney.

From Latin exclamare, "to call out" — ex ("out") plus clamare ("to shout").

Borrowed from French Voltaire. The surname is mostly found in Haiti.

From try + -ing.

The past participle of try, from Middle English tried.

Transliterated from Sanskrit विष्णु (vishnu).

A shortened nickname form of Frances/Francis.

From foot + note, describing a note placed at the "foot," or bottom, of the page.

From Late Latin choralis, from Latin chorus.

From Old French refunder, "to pay back," ultimately from Latin re- ("back") plus fundere ("to pour").