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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An initialism of over the counter.

From the NATO phonetic alphabet, where Oscar stands for O and Mike for M, spelling out the initials of 'on the move'.

Jamaican English

From Jamaican English and Rastafarian usage, where 'one' expresses oneness of all people; carried into international English by reggae.

From the allusion of a ship running aground against rocks and breaking apart. The poured over ice sense is due to ice's resemblance to rocks.

A compound of old and fashioned, in the older sense of fashion meaning 'style or manner'.

An initialism of occupational health and safety.

A compound of off and peak, peak here meaning the highest point of a demand curve.

An initialism of Oxford English Dictionary.

The people's own name for themselves and their language, connected with the name of the region now called Odisha (formerly spelled Orissa in English). The English spelling was officially changed from Oriya to Odia in 2011.

From Latin occurrere, 'to run towards, present itself', from ob-, 'towards', and currere, 'to run'.

From Latin obtinere, 'to hold, possess', from ob-, 'towards', and tenere, 'to hold', through Old French obtenir.

From Greek nymphē, 'bride' or 'nymph', and mania, 'madness' or 'frenzy', by way of modern Latin nymphomania.

An initialism; the slang sense abbreviates nothing much.

In the medical sense, an initialism of Latin nil per os, 'nothing through the mouth'.

From Latin novatio, 'a renewing', from novare, 'to make new', from novus, 'new'.

From French Notre-Dame, 'Our Lady', a title of the Virgin Mary.

non-denominational

From non-, 'not', plus denomination, from Latin denominare, 'to name'.

An Australian English phrase that spread to British and American use in the late twentieth century.

no strings attached

From the figurative use of strings for the ties or controls attached to a gift or agreement, as with a puppet's strings.

Shortened from earlier it makes no matter, it is no matter.

From frill, a decorative ruffle on cloth, used figuratively from the nineteenth century for an unnecessary ornament or extra.

Inherited from Middle English ne doute, a calque of Old French saunz doute, itself borrowed unadapted into Middle English.

From Spanish no bueno, literally 'not good'. The phrase is not idiomatic Spanish in this use; Spanish speakers would normally say no es bueno or no sirve.

From French niche, a recess in a wall, from nicher, to nest; the sense of a snug, well-suited position was extended to business in the twentieth century.