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 a Middle English diminutive of the female given name Emma.

A patronymic surname that is derived from Batte, a medieval form of the male given name Bartholomew + -s (denoting "son of") hence meaning "son of Bartholomew".

From Greek Mēdeia, related to the verb "to plan" or "to devise."

From shark plus the adjective-forming suffix -y.

From the surname of Guglielmo Marconi, the Italian inventor credited with pioneering long-distance radio transmission.

Borrowed from Italian Marciano.

From the Italian town of Tivoli, ultimately from the Latin name Tibur.

From Spanish Cádiz, ultimately from Phoenician via Latin Gādēs.

A variant of Callahan.

The tobacco is named after William Cavendish; the popular Cavendish banana is likewise named after a different Duke of Devonshire from the same family.

Variant of Collidge.

Variant of Conroy.

From copper + field.

Scottish Gaelic

From Scottish Gaelic cuilinn.

A variant of Crichton.

From Old Norse kross ("cross") plus býr ("settlement").

Perhaps from French Crusiaux, a topographic surname from a diminutive of creux ("hollow").

From the Old English personal name *Cossa + Old Norse býr (“farm; settlement”).

A Scots variant of "clothes," from Old English clāþas.

Short for "Smokey Bear," the cartoon forest-ranger mascot, whose hat resembled those worn by highway patrol officers.

From Japanese みどり (midori), meaning "green" — also used as a given name.

Borrowed from German Schmitt.

Borrowed from German Krause.

Borrowed from German Kraus.