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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Borrowed from Late Latin cannula, canula (“tubular surgical instrument”), from Latin cannula (“reed; small reed- or tube-shaped object”), from canna (“cane; reed; object made from or shaped like a cane or reed”) + -ula (feminine form of -ulus (diminutive suffix). Canna is derived from Ancient Greek κᾰ́ννᾰ (kắnnă, “reed”), from Akkadian 𒂵𒉡𒌑𒌝 (qanûm, “cane; reed”). The plural form cannulae is borrowed from Late Latin cannulae.

Blend of buy + boycott.

From boneheaded + -ness.

From Middle English bondman; equivalent to bond + -man.

A feminine form of Brian, taken to regular use in the 1970s.

A rather rare spelling variant of Blaise, from Latin Blasius.

From Dutch boerenkool (“kale”). See cole.

Uncertain. Dating from 1950s. Derivation from purported toilet manufacturer Brass Co. lacks documentary evidence.

From bum + hole.

From bust + line.

From blab + tale.

A deverbal from brown out, by analogy with blackout.

blockheadedness

From blockheaded + -ness.

Possibly onomatopoeic, similarly to blob and blubber.

From blackish + -ness.

From campane + -ed.

From cannula + -ise.

From candle + maker.

From be- + small.

From capitalize + -able.

From be- (“on, upon, about”) + spell.

Blend of camisole + knickers. The term was coined in the 1920s when camiknickers were introduced as a briefer garment than combinations. The garment reappeared in the lingerie market in the 1990s under the name teddy or body.

Borrowed from French brigadier. Equivalent to brigade + -ier.

From calcul(ate) + -able.