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.

Browse etymology by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Recently added

From Latin instabilitas, from in- ("not") + stability.

From Spanish gazpacho; the deeper origin is uncertain, though some trace it back to a Latin word for a strongbox, possibly referencing the mix of ingredients tossed together in the dish.

From Latin fissio, "the act of splitting," from findere, "to split" — the same root behind "fissure."

From Old French harlot, originally meaning a vagabond or low-born person of either sex, before narrowing in English to its current meaning.

Borrowed from French fuselage, ultimately from Latin fusus ("spindle") — the shape of an aircraft body was compared to a spindle.

A simple compound of "star" + "light."

From thunder + bolt.

From Middle English piteeles, from pity + -less.

Borrowed from Louisiana Creole, reflecting the dish's roots in Cajun and Creole cooking traditions.

The "sandal" part traces back through Arabic and Persian to Sanskrit candana ("sandalwood") — an entirely different root from the footwear word "sandal."

From Middle French casaque ("cloak").

Derived from Latin oliva ("olive"); the name was popularised in English by its use for a character in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

A compound of head and lock, describing a hold that "locks" the head in place.

From Middle English manlynes, built from manly plus -ness.

A compound of "eye" + "liner" (something that draws a line).

From lip plus the adjective-forming suffix -y.

From stop + -ed. In some senses, the adjective follows from the verb; in others, it may derive directly from the noun stop.

From fantasy + -ize.

From Old French mirtille, ultimately from Latin myrtus, from Ancient Greek myrtos ("myrtle").

From Middle English tastynge, formed from taste plus the -ing ending.

Spanish · 1568

Named in 1568 by a Spanish explorer after his hometown in Spain, whose own name comes from Arabic for "valley of the stalls."

From un- + interesting.

From "boot" + "leg" — smugglers in the 1700s and 1800s hid illegal bottles of liquor inside the legs of their tall boots.

From Latin commentarius ("notebook, memorandum"), related to "comment."