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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Named after a small chapel of ease dedicated to St Mary.

Reduced Anglicized form of Irish Ó Glasáin (“descendant of Glasán”), a personal name which derives from a diminutive form of glas (“green, blue, grey”).

Named after Richard Gatling, the American inventor who patented the gun in 1862.

From Old English ġerd (“stick, rod”) + lēah (“woodland, clearing”). Equivalent to yard + -ley (“lea”).

Borrowed from Japanese arigatou, meaning "thank you."

From walk + -ie.

From the German surname Sachse, meaning "Saxon."

From Latin Palēs, from Etruscan.

From Ancient Greek logos, "word, reason, account" — the same root that gives English "logic" and the "-logy" suffix.

As a surname, borrowed from Spanish Oña.

Borrowed from Korean 가야 (gaya).

A Latinized name likely built to mean "surpassing Celsus," a nod to the ancient Roman medical writer.

Transliteration of Gujarati મોદી (modī).

From Japanese 茶道 (sadō).

Scottish Gaelic

From Scottish Gaelic moine ("moor") plus rois ("peninsula").

From Latin septimus, meaning "seventh."

From Persian روشن (rowšan) and Sanskrit, meaning "light, radiance, bright".

From the Old French name Galahad, of uncertain origin, possibly linked to the biblical place name Gilead.

From Russian tsar, ultimately from Latin Caesar — the same root that gives German "Kaiser."

Named after electronics researcher Ralph Hartley (1888-1970), who studied the measurement of information.

Borrowed from Punjabi ਓਬਰਾਇ (obarāi).

A casual, affectionate shortening of "spider," with the "-y" ending used the way it is in other pet nicknames.

Borrowed from Japanese のりこ (Noriko).

A marketing name chosen as a homophone of "we," with the two lowercase "i" letters meant to suggest two people standing side by side.