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 French rôtisserie, from rôtir, "to roast."

From room plus the suffix -ful, meaning "enough to fill."

A straightforward compound of roof and top.

From "rock" plus "steady," describing its steadier, slower rhythm compared to ska.

From "road" + "house" — a house of hospitality built along a travel route rather than inside a town.

Formed from the verb phrase "run around", in the sense of leading someone in circles.

Formed from the verb phrase "run about" — something used for getting around locally.

Via French and Spanish from Guarani ñandu guasu.

Named after Lord Raglan, a British army commander in the Crimean War, who reportedly wore a coat cut this way after losing an arm.

From Old English bānlēas, a direct combination of "bone" and "-less," meaning without bones.

From Tagalog gabi, ultimately from Proto-Philippine roots.

Anglicized from Irish Órfhlaith, from ór ("gold") + flaith ("princess").

Shortened from "jockey shorts."

Formed from material plus the verb-forming suffix -ize.

Formed from Santa plus the diminutive suffix "-y."

From dis- ("not") + service.

From behaviour + -al.

From sky + line.

From better plus the noun-forming suffix -ment, as in "improvement" or "advancement."

From dense plus the adverb-forming suffix -ly.

From an alteration of Middle English words for "clearing away," ultimately built from the verb rid plus the suffix -ance.

Ultimately from the German town name, Walldorf.

A Latinate variant of Dorothy, ultimately from Ancient Greek Δωροθέα (Dōrothéa), from δῶρον (dôron, "gift") + θεά (theá, "goddess").

Anglicized from the Irish surname Ó Bradáin, "descendant of Bradán," a personal name meaning "salmon."