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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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Borrowed from Arabic قَاسِم (qāsim).

Perhaps from Old English mere (“pool, lake”), similar to the surname Mears.

Variant of Jeffries.

From Japanese Izu, the name of the historical province and modern city.

Reduced form of McCafferty.

Borrowed from Dutch Evers.

From Hebrew שָׁרוֹנָה, an extended form of Sharon.

Borrowed from Hungarian László. Doublet of Vladislav.

Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Dhuibhshìthe /MacDhuibhshith.

A straightforward compound of "gold" (its colour) and "fish," dating back centuries to when the species was bred in China.

A trademarked brand name for the oxycodone-paracetamol combination drug.

Transliteration of Hindi रोहित (rohit).

A coined brand name, likely blending an element referencing the Roman numeral VI (since hydrocodone is roughly six times as potent as codeine) with "codeine."

Borrowed from Hungarian Makó.

Various origins: * Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Iain Uidhir (“son of sallow John”), from the personal name Iain (“John”) and odhar (“dun; sallow”). * Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac an Oighre (“son of the heir”), from oighre (“heir, inheritor”). * Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac an Mhaoir (“son of the officer”), from maor (“officer”).

From Sanskrit महेन्द्र (mahendra), combining महा (mahā, "great") with इन्द्र (Indra), the name of the storm god — so, roughly, "the great Indra."

From Sanskrit सुनील (sunīla, “very black or blue, dark”); ultimately from सु (su) + नील (nīla).

Borrowed from Sanskrit किशोर (kiśora, “a colt; a youth, lad”).

Borrowed from Sanskrit सावित्री (sāvitrī).

From Sanskrit मल्लिका (mallikā).

From Sanskrit mohinī, meaning "enchantress."

From the Sanskrit gāyatrī, the name of both the metre and the revered Vedic hymn composed in it.

Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac a' Ghille Bhàin (“son of the pale or white-haired man”).

From stone plus the adjective suffix -y.