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 "Tom" plus the patronymic suffix "-s."

From Old Norse hals (“neck”).

Variant of Tomkins, from a diminutive of the given name Thomas + the patronymic suffix -s.

From a medieval diminutive form of the given name Thomas.

From a medieval diminutive form of the given name Thomas.

From Adam + the patronymic suffix -s.

From a diminutive of Adam plus the patronymic suffix -s.

From a mostly Irish variant of Adkin and Atkin, diminutive forms of the name Adam.

A variant of Hodgkins, from the given name Roger.

From Hodgin, a diminutive of the given name Roger, plus the patronymic suffix -s.

From Hodge, a pet form of the given name Roger, plus the patronymic suffix -s.

From Dodge + -son and from Dodd + -son.

A less common spelling of Hendricks.

From the given name Hendrick plus the patronymic "-s".

From a medieval diminutive of Henry.

From Dawe (“diminutive of David”) + -s (“patronymic suffix”).

From Dawkin + -s (“patronymic suffix”).

From a Middle English short form of David plus the suffix -kin.

A clipped, affectionate form of "Ferguson," the tractor maker's name, plus "-ie."

Formed with -s (hypocoristic suffix).

From town + -s- + end. From Middle English toun (“hamlet, village”) + ende (“end”), referring to a dweller at the outskirts of a village.

Related to the old French word goffe, meaning "clumsy" or "ill-made," and similar dialect words in Italian, Spanish, and German for a blockhead or fool.

From Middle English Drayton, from Old English Drægtūn ("town where logs are dragged"), from draġan ("to drag") + tūn ("town").

From "crowd" (an old name for a stringed instrument) plus "-er."