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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Named after the Pullman Palace Car Company, founded by American industrialist George Pullman (1831–1897).

From Mandarin 蒲 (Pú).

From German Protestant or French protestant, ultimately tied to protest plus -ant — the early Reformers formally "protested" against Catholic Church decisions.

From Latin stella polaris, "pole star."

From Latin pisces ("fish"), the plural of piscis, translating the Greek name for the same constellation.

From Italian Pisa, from Latin Pīsae, of Etruscan origin.

From French Pierre, a doublet of Peter, ultimately from Greek petros, "rock".

Derived from Ibaloi piho (“pick mattock”), which inhabitants used to flatten the hilly land.

Formed from the first, middle, and last letters of German Pfefferminz ("peppermint"), the candy's original flavor.

Various origins: * Borrowed from French Péré, a habitational surname. * Borrowed from Catalan Pere, a personal name equivalent of Peter. * Borrowed from Hungarian Pere.

Variant of Piers.

Borrowed from Spanish paz, "peace," from Latin pax.

From Old English panne, the same root that gives us "pancake" and "saucepan."

From Middle English pakker, pakkere, packare, equivalent to pack + -er.

The weight abbreviation comes from Italian "onza" (ounce); the Australia nickname is a playful respelling of "Aussie/Australia."

From German Otto, an old short form of Germanic names starting with a root meaning "wealth" or "riches" — the same root behind the "Ed-" in names like Edward and Edmund.

Borrowed from French Olivier, a doublet of Oliver.

From Yoruba ọlá ("honor"), or as a surname from Spanish/Basque ola ("forge").

From Latin nova, "new," describing a star that appears newly bright.

From French Nord.

From French Noëlle, the feminine form of Noël.

From Old English nān ("none, not any"), the same root that gives us "none," reduced over time before consonants.

* (Chinese surname): Borrowed from Chinese 郳 (ní), 倪 or 妮 (nī).

From various Chinese surnames, including: * Hokkien 黃 /黄 (N̂g) * Cantonese 吳 /吴 (ng⁴) and 伍 (ng⁵) The Philippine pronunciation is influenced by Tagalog ng.