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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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* As a Dutch surname, variant of Haack. * As a Czech surname Hák, from the noun hák (“hook”). * As a Cambodian surname, from Khmer ហាក់ (hak), itself of Chinese origin and from 和 (“peace”), compare He. * As an Islamic name mainly in India, borrowed from Bengali হক (hok). Compare Haq. * Also as a Chinese surname, from 郝 (hǎo), see Hao.

From Old English hind (“hind, female deer”) + lēah (“woodland clearing, glade”). Equivalent to hind + -ley (“lea”).

From German Himmler.

Borrowed from Swedish Wallander.

Borrowed from Dutch Hoboken, from Middle Dutch words meaning "high beeches."

A habitational surname derived from Boulogne-sur-Mer in France.

A variant of Plympton or Plumpton.

Various origins: * The Gloucestershire placename derives from Old English sċeard (“notch; shard; cleft, gap”) + wella (“well, spring”). * The suburb of London is named with Old English sċeald (“shallow”) + wella (“well, spring”). * The Norfolk placename derives from Old English scēad (“boundary”) + wella (“well, spring”). * The West Yorkshire placename probably derives from Old English sċeadu (“shade; shady place”) + wella (“well, spring”).

From lawn + dale.

Variant of Clairmont.

Spanish · 1901

The city name dates to 1901; its origin is unclear, though it may be a misspelling of the Spanish word for "little shell".

Coined from "cross-discipline fitness," combining "cross-" and "fit."

From Mandarin 木蘭／木兰 (Mùlán), literally "magnolia".

Borrowed from Japanese 亘理 (Watari).

From Korean Wie (Wie), from 위 (wi), from 魏, from Chinese 魏.

Anglicized form of Irish Mac Aodha.

Anglicized form of Irish Mac Diarmada (“son of Diarmaid”).

Borrowed from Korean seonbae ("senior"), and closely related to the Japanese word senpai.

From load + -er.

From Ventureño ʼawhaʼy, meaning "moon."

Variant of McFarlane.

From Belarusian Грэцкі (Hrecki).

From Spanish montecito, "little mountain" or "little woodland."

From a Purisimeño word meaning "stagnant water."