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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From Armenian "Saroyan."

From Spanish Díaz.

A clipped form of "epinephrine," itself from Greek epi- ("upon") + nephros ("kidney"), referring to the adrenal glands that produce the hormone.

Borrowed from Japanese とみこ (Tomiko).

From French Huron, of uncertain origin — possibly from French hure ("boar's head," a jab at a hairstyle) or from an Iroquoian word for "nation."

Borrowed from German Prager.

From pine + -y.

As an English surname, from the personal name Morel, a diminutive of Old French more ("dark"); the Canadian place is named after French settler Jean Francois Morel.

Americanized spelling of German Pentz or Benz.

A nickname from a diminutive of Old French dur ("hard").

Borrowed from German Huber.

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Likely from the tribe's own name for themselves, possibly meaning "round head," though older sources popularly (and incorrectly) rendered it as "children of the sun."

From Mandarin 少林 (Shàolín), the name of the monastery.

From sea + hawk.

From Korea + town.

A variant of Mitford.

From a Native American word for the plant, likely from an Algonquian language.

Borrowed from French Dax.

From Libyan Arabic, ultimately from an occupational Arabic term meaning "hurler" or "one who flings."

A clipping of Rafael.

A shortened, casual form of "darling".

From Sanskrit "pradhana," meaning "chief" or "principal."

From Old English Ælfrīc ("elf-ruler") or Æðelrīc ("noble ruler").