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 bat + poop, as a euphemism for batshit.

From New Latin baryta, from 18c. Latinization of French barote, 1782 coinage from Ancient Greek βαρύτης (barútēs, “heaviness”), from βαρύς (barús) + -της (-tēs).

From ball + sucker.

From bean + town, in reference to Boston baked beans.

From benth- + -on.

From be- + dear.

From Middle English belyen, beliggen, from Old English beliċġan, biliċġan (“to lie around, surround, hedge in, encompass”), from Proto-West Germanic *biliggjan, from Proto-Germanic *biligjaną (“to lie around”). Equivalent to be- (“around, by”) + lie (“to be positioned”).

From bedaff (“to befool, make a fool of”) + -t (past tense ending).

From benight + -ed.

From befuddle + -ment.

From bean + brain.

From avocation + -al.

From be- + laud.

From bailie (“bailiff”) and wick (“dwelling”), from Old English wīc.

From Ancient Greek ἄστατος (ástatos, “unstable”) + -ine.

Variant of Atherton.

Blend of battleship + cruiser, from being a cruiser-like ship with battleship-like capabilities and possibly operating in the battleline.

From besiege + -ment.

From bare + footed.

From auto- + noetic.

From banjax + -ed.

From bellows + -er, from bellows (“the lungs”); (life sentence): because people continue to breathe until they die.

From Latin aviārium, from avis (“bird”).

From ass (“arse, asshole”) + -y. Compare German arschig.