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 Welsh ap Owain, meaning "son of Owen."

* As a German, Alemannic German and Jewish surname, from the noun Neffe (“nephew”). * Americanized variant of Naff. * As a Dutch surname, variant of Neve, related to the nephew sense above. * As an Irish surname, shortened from McNeff, McNiff.

Borrowed from Hindi bhābhī, used for an elder brother's wife or as a respectful term for an older woman.

From Biblical Hebrew שִׁילֹה (shiló).

Variant of Michael with patronymic genitival or post-medieval excrescent -s.

Anglicisation of Welsh Meurig.

Two main origins: * A variant of Mead, a topographic or occupational surname. * Anglicized form of Irish Midheach, superseded spelling of Míoch (“Meathman, a native of Meath”).

Anglicized form of Norman Mahieu, a common form of the personal name Matthew.

From a given name, Norman Mainard, borrowed from Old Dutch meginhard from Proto-Germanic *maginą (“might”) + *harduz (“hard, strong”)

From Irish Ó Maol Eoin.

An Anglicized shortening of Irish Ó Mathghamhna, from elements meaning "bear" and "calf."

* As an English surname, from the personal name Massy, a pet form of Matthew. Compare Mace. * Also as an English surname of Norman origin, from several places in Normandy such as Macey in Manche, Massy in Seine-Maritime, Macé-sur-Orne in Orne, La Ferté Macé in Orne. * Also as an English surname, variant of Marsay (see Marcey). * As a French surname, variant of Massé (see Masse). * As a southern French surname of Italian origin, from several places named Massa in Italy.

From the Welsh surname Madog, later anglicized to Maddox.

From Sanskrit शंकर (śaṃkara), "one who gives happiness," also an epithet of the god Shiva.

Borrowed from Sanskrit संध्या (saṃdhyā, “twilight”).

Borrowed from Telugu రాజు (rāju, "king"), from Sanskrit राजन् (rājan).

From Old English Ceadda ("Chad") combined with Old Norse vík ("bay, inlet").

From Old English loc ("lock; enclosure") + wudu ("wood").

A variant of Caton or Keeton, possibly derived from a place name in Devon combining Welsh cae ("enclosure") with Middle English toun ("settlement").

Of various origins, including: *An anglicization of Irish gaothair; *An anglicization of Scottish Gaelic mag Uchtre; or *An anglicization of Irish Ó Fhlaithimh.

A variant of the surname Good.

From Spanish Gómez.

From Old English horh ("mud, slime") plus tūn ("enclosure, settlement").

From Old English hol ("hollow") plus brōc ("stream, brook").