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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Shortening, chiefly of Virginia (which is also shortened to Ginny), sometimes of Eugenia, and rarely of Genevieve (more often shortened to Genny).

From Old English Engla, genitive plural of Engle (“the English, the Angles”) + wudu (“woods, forest”).

From the Hanyu Pinyin romanization of the Mandarin pronunciation of Chinese 薊 /蓟 (Jì), literally thistle or thistles.

From roll plus the adjective-forming suffix -y; compare the older term roly-poly.

A variant of the Scottish surname Falconer, from the occupation of training and handling falcons.

Anglicised form of the Irish surnames Ó Conghalaigh and Ó Conghaile, patronyms of the given name Conghalach.

Invented for the television series Farscape as a fictional alien swear word.

From Arabic مجيد (majīd), meaning "majestic" or "magnificent."

From the trademarked brand name Betadine.

Borrowed through Latin from Ancient Greek sôru, referring to a type of mineral ore.

Transliteration of Russian Е́льцин (Jélʹcin).

From Algonquian "Chesepiooc," likely meaning something like "great water" rather than the popular folk explanation "great shellfish bay."

From Old French bel ami, meaning "fair friend" — possibly also linked to the Norman town of Belesme.

Borrowed from Greek Μάνη f (Máni).

Popular slang of disputed origin — often explained as a shortening of "babe" or "baby," and sometimes jokingly claimed to stand for "before anyone else."

Originally a nickname for Geoffrey of Anjou, said to have worn a sprig of yellow broom blossom in his hat — "planta genista" in Latin, meaning "sprig of broom." His descendants later adopted it as a surname.

From Latin Nerō, the name of the Roman emperor who ruled from 54 to 68 AD.

From Spanish solano, related to sol ("sun") — a wind associated with the direction of the rising sun.

From Latin Bracara Augusta, named after a Celtic tribe called the Bracari.

From the brand name ChapStick, itself formed from chap (as in chapped skin) + stick.

The verb is unrelated to the geographic name; the Bering Sea and Strait are instead named after the Danish-born navigator Vitus Bering, who explored the region for the Russian Navy.

From the Old Norse given name Kolbeinn.

From Irish Gaelic Ó Gallchobhair, meaning "descendant of the foreign helper."

A spelling variant of Gay.