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.

Browse etymology by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Recently added

From Italian "lupo," meaning "wolf."

A blend of snapshot and chat.

From a minor place name in Lancashire, combining an Old English personal name with elements meaning "belonging to" and "settlement."

An anglicised form of the Irish surname Irish Mac Dhubhghaill. The town in Oklahoma is named after businessman William H. Coyle, who served as a purchasing agent for the Eastern Oklahoma Railway.

Borrowed from Portuguese, Galician and Italian Ponte.

Borrowed from Latin Thērōn, in turn from Ancient Greek Θήρων (Thḗrōn).

From the Japanese surname 山葉 (Yamaha), that of the company's founder.

Anglicized from Irish Ó hAodhagáin, "descendant of Aodhagán," itself built from the old Irish name element áed, meaning "fire."

Two main origins: * From Old English lang (“long”) + ford (“ford”). * The village in Nottinghamshire may derived from an Old English personal name *Landa + ford.

A Danish and Norwegian form ultimately derived from Latin Severus, meaning "stern" or "severe."

Borrowed from the Italian surname Cassini.

Variant of Sermon.

Formed from "ring" plus the small-action suffix "-le."

From Scottish Gaelic MacGriogair (“son of gregory”).

Borrowed from Spanish Isabela; the Philippine province is named after Queen Isabella II of Spain.

A habitational surname for someone who lived in Bristol.

Named after Guccio Gucci, the Italian founder of the fashion house.

Scottish surname, Anglicized from the Scottish Gaelic name Muireadhach (“mariner”), Murchadh (“sea-warrior”), Muircheartach (“sea-ruler”), all having as the first element of muir (“sea”).

From French Beauregard.

From Italian Mancini.

Clipping of folio.

Anglicization of Welsh ap Heilyn (“son of Heilyn”).

Borrowed from Dutch and North German Booms.

From Japanese Minato, meaning "harbor."