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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Shortened from "brandywine," itself from Dutch brandewijn, literally "burnt wine" — a reference to the distilling process.

From Dutch berm, meaning a grassy verge or strip of ground beside a road or canal.

From "a-" plus the old nautical call "hoy," a shout used since medieval times to hail or greet someone.

From Old French trespas, "a passing across, an offense," from trespasser, "to pass beyond, transgress" — built from tres- ("across") and passer ("to pass").

From French Jeanne, tracing back through Latin and Greek to a Hebrew name meaning "God is gracious" — making it a direct relative of "John" and "Joan."

Borrowed from French infrastructure, from "infra-" ("below") + "structure."

Borrowed from Dutch ravelen/rafelen, meaning to tangle or fray; the exact origin beyond that is uncertain.

From Old English wiht ("thing, creature"), an ancient word related to Dutch and German words for "child" or "creature."

From Old Norse tjǫrn, meaning a small lake with no streams feeding into it.

From an early English word borrowed from Old Norse gustr ("a gust, blast"); related to gush.

Related to an older word gowk, from Old Norse gaukr ("cuckoo") — the bird's name became a byword for a fool, and later for someone staring blankly.

From Old Norse garðr ("enclosure"), the same root that gave English "yard" and "garden."

From Middle English flitten, borrowed from Old Norse flytja ("to move"), ultimately from a root meaning "to flow" or "run."

Originally a Scots word, possibly from Middle Low German schö̂ne, "fine flour bread," or from Scottish Gaelic sgonn, "lump."

From Scots rampage, likely built from ramp (as in "rampant") plus the suffix -age.

Borrowed from Scots croon, describing a low, drawn-out sound or lament; related to Middle Dutch and Old High German words meaning "to moan" or "to babble."

Origin uncertain, possibly linked to "coal" as a reference to the dog's dark coloring.

From Scots caddie, itself from French cadet ("younger son, army cadet"); originally used for young errand-runners before narrowing to its golf sense.

From Old French impotent, from Latin impotens, from in- ("not") + potens ("powerful").

A simple compound of rose and bud.

From Middle English "cub" (a stall or pen) plus the diminutive ending "-y."

From junk plus the adjective-forming suffix -y.

Formed from junk (in its drug sense) plus the informal suffix -ie.

Borrowed from Arabic jihād, meaning "struggle" or "effort."