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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The feminine form of Agrippa.

Named after Stroud, a town in Gloucestershire, England, historically associated with wool production.

A blend of witness and security.

Borrowed from Spanish Segundo; this surname is predominantly found in Mexico.

From Middle French mahonne.

From Middle English tylman, literally "till-man" — someone whose job is tilling.

From Old English cleofa, meaning a cleft, cave, or small chamber — ultimately from a root meaning "to split or cleave", the same root behind the word cleave.

An imitative word, similar to "ow" and "yowch", mimicking a cry of pain.

Formed from gold plus "-ing," first recorded around 1580, likely describing the golden color of the hop cones or apples.

A dialect variant of "bench," from Old English benc via Middle English bink/benk.

A diminutive form, ultimately linked to the genus name Mollienesia, once used for these fish.

From Latin nola, popularly linked to the Italian town of Nola, said to be where church bells were first used in Christian worship — though it may simply be an imitation of the bell's sound.

From the Italian place name Sorrento, ultimately from the Latin Surrentum, of uncertain older origin.

Named after Robert de Sorbon, who founded the original college in 1257.

From the Revised Romanization or McCune-Reischauer romanization of Korean 신라(新羅) (Silla).

From the Irish first name Tadhg, once used generically (and disparagingly) by English speakers for Irish men.

A compound of "turn" and "bull," originally a nickname for someone strong enough to turn a bull.

Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ὀρέστης (Oréstēs).

From "spank" plus the suffix "-y," echoing the phrase "brand spanking new."

From Batman + -mobile, following the pattern of words like "automobile."

From the Korean word 김 (gim).

Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Tamhais (“son of Thomas”).

A shortened form of Thomas.