The English source dictionary · partial corpus coverage

English word origins · page 139

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murus

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *mey- Proto-Indo-European *-ros Proto-Indo-European *moyros Proto-Italic *moiros Latin mūrusbor. English murus Borrowed from Latin mūrus (“wall”).

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions

murva

Borrowed from Sanskrit मूर्वा (mūrvā).

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murza

From Russian мурза, related to mirza.

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musal

From Muse + -al.

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muse

From Middle French muse, from Latin Mūsa, from Ancient Greek Μοῦσα (Moûsa).

3 source sections · 7 relationship mentions

musea

From Latin musea; by surface analysis, muse(um) + -a.

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

muser

From Middle English musere. By surface analysis, muse + -er.

2 source sections · 3 relationship mentions

muset

From Middle French mussette, from Old French mussette, diminutive of musse, muce (“a hiding place”).

1 source section · 2 relationship mentions

Probably a variant of mash, or from a dialectal variant of Middle English mos (“mush, pulp, porridge”); compare Middle English appelmos (“applesauce”), from Old English mōs (“food, victuals, porridge, mush”), from Proto-

7 source sections · 19 relationship mentions

musha

Borrowed from Irish muise; perhaps originally a minced oath for Muire (“Mary”).

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

mushy

Etymology tree English mush Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English mushy From mush + -y.

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music

From Middle English musik, musike, borrowed from Anglo-Norman musik, musike, Old French musique, and their source Latin mūsica, from Ancient Greek μουσική (mousikḗ), from Ancient Greek Μοῦσα (Moûsa, “Muse”), an Ancient G

2 source sections · 16 relationship mentions

musk

From Middle English muske, borrowed from Old French musc, from Late Latin muscus, from Ancient Greek μόσχος (móskhos), from Middle Persian [script needed] (mwšk' /⁠muʃk⁠/) whence Persian مشک (mošk). Ultimately from Sansk

2 source sections · 12 relationship mentions

musky

Etymology tree English musk Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English musky From musk + -y.

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muso

Etymology tree English musician Latin ō Old French ohbor. Middle English o English O ▲ Middle English o English oh English -o English muso From musician + -o (“diminutive suffix”).

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musou

From Japanese 無双 (musō, “unrivaled”), the final word in the title of the 2000 game 真・三國無双 (Shin Sangokumusō, "True Three Kingdoms Unrivaled"), released in English territories as Dynasty Warriors 2.

1 source section · 1 relationship mention

muss

Related to mess (“disorder”).

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mussy

Etymology tree English muss Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English mussy From muss + -y.

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must

From Middle English moste ("must", literally, "had to", the past tense of Middle English moten (“to have to”)), from Old English mōste (“had to”), 1st & 3rd person singular past tense of mōtan (“to be allowed, be able to

4 source sections · 20 relationship mentions

musta

Written form of a reduction of must have.

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musth

Borrowed from Hindustani (Hindi मस्त (mast) / Urdu مَسْت (mast, “drunk, intoxicated; lustful”); and also from Middle Hindi مَسْت (mst /⁠mast⁠/)), and from its etymon Classical Persian مَسْت (mast, “(adjective) drunk, int

1 source section · 4 relationship mentions

musty

The adjective is derived from Late Middle English musty; further origin uncertain, possibly from one of the following: * From Anglo-Norman muste, moste, variants of moiste, muiste (“moist”), from Old French moiste (“clam

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muta-

From mutation, itself from Latin mūtātiō, by analogy with other Graeco-Latin prefixes.

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mutat

Borrowed from Arabic مُتْعَة (mutʕa). Doublet of mut'ah.

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mutch

From Middle Dutch mutse, from amutse, from Late Latin almucia (“almuce”). Doublet of almuce.

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mute

From Middle English muet, from Anglo-Norman muet, moet, Middle French muet, from mu (“dumb, mute”) + -et, remodelled after Latin mūtus.

3 source sections · 5 relationship mentions

muten

From mute + -en.

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muter

From mute + -er.

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mutex

Syllabic abbreviation of mutually exclusive or mutual exclusion.

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mutha

Dialectal variant of mother * Geordie dialect variant of mother. * Ebonics variant of mother.

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muti

Etymology tree Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀tɪ́ Zulu úmuthíbor. English muti Borrowed from Zulu úmuthí (“shrub, tree, medicine”), from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀tɪ́.

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mutie

Clipping of mutant + -ie.

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muton

Contracted form of mutation + -on, coined by American molecular biologist Seymour Benzer in 1957 as "[t]he unit of mutation […] defined as the smallest element that, when altered, can give rise to a mutant form of the or

1 source section · 2 relationship mentions

mutt

Clipping of muttonhead.

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muufo

Borrowed from Somali muufo.

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mux

Compare muck.

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muxer

Shortening.

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muy

Borrowed from Spanish muy.

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muzz

Uncertain.

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muzzy

Clipping of moustache + -y (diminutive suffix).

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mvule

Borrowed from Swahili mvule.

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mwah

Onomatopoeic. From the sound made when kissing, or the sound of a fretless bass.

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mwami

Ultimately from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀jámí.

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mxn

From men + -x-. Respelled to use x (like e.g. Latinx) to convey that the word has a broad scope, and to foreground people of color; compare womxn.

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my

From Middle English mi, my, apocopated form of min, myn, from Old English mīn (“my, mine”), from Proto-West Germanic *mīn, from Proto-Germanic *mīnaz (“my, mine”, pron.) (possessive of *ek (“I”)), from Proto-Indo-Europea

2 source sections · 10 relationship mentions

my-

Ancient Greek μῦς (mûs, “mouse, mussel, muscle”)

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myal

From myo- + -al.

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myall

Borrowed from Dharug mayal, miyal.

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myc-

Etymology tree Pre-Greekder. Ancient Greek μῠ́κης (mŭ́kēs)der. English myc- Derived from Ancient Greek μῠ́κης (mŭ́kēs).

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mycin

From the suffix.

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myco-

Etymology tree Pre-Greekder. Ancient Greek μῠ́κης (mŭ́kēs) Ancient Greek -ο- (-o-)der. Latin -o-bor. English -o- English myco- From Ancient Greek μῠ́κης (mŭ́kēs, “mushroom or other fungus”) + English -o-.

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myel-

From Ancient Greek μυελός (muelós, “marrow”).

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myeon

From Korean 면(面) (myeon).

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mylar

From a trademark.

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mylk

Respelling of milk.

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mylo-

From Ancient Greek μῠ́λη (mŭ́lē, “mill; molar tooth”) + -o-.

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myn

Respelling of men based on womyn, which was itself respelled so as to be spelled differently from men.

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myna

Borrowed from Hindi मैना (mainā) / Urdu مینا (mainā), from Sanskrit मदन (madana).

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myo-

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *múHs Proto-Hellenic *mū́s Ancient Greek μῦς (mûs)der. English myo- From international scientific vocabulary, reflecting a New Latin combining form, from Ancient Greek μῦς (mûs, “mouse;

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myoga

From Japanese 茗荷 (myōga).

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myoid

From myo- + -oid.

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myoma

From myo- + -oma.

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myopy

French myopie.

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myron

Borrowed from Ancient Greek μῠ́ρον (mŭ́ron).

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myrrh

From Middle English mirre, from Old English myrre, from Latin myrrha, from Ancient Greek μύρρα (múrrha), from Semitic. Compare Arabic مُرّ (murr, “myrrh”, literally “bitterness”), Hebrew מור / מֹר (mōr, “myrrh”, literall

1 source section · 5 relationship mentions

mysal

From Middle English mesel (“leprous, leper”), from Norman mesel (“leprous, leper”), from Old French mesel (“leprous, leper”), from Late Latin misellus (“leper”), from miser (“wretched, wretch”) + -ellus (“-elle”). Double

1 source section · 4 relationship mentions

mysid

Borrowed from Translingual Mysida.

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mysis

Borrowed from New Latin, from Ancient Greek μῡ́ειν (mū́ein, “to close”, used of the lips or eyes).

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myso-

From Ancient Greek μύσος (músos, “uncleanness”).

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mysto

From myst(ical) + -o. Compare mysto-magic.

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myth

From Ancient Greek μῦθος (mûthos, “word, humour, companion, speech, account, rumour, fable”). Attested in English since 1830. Doublet of mythos.

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mythy

From myth + -y.

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myx-

From Ancient Greek μύξα (múxa, “mucus”).

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myxo

Shortening.

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myxo-

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *(s)mewk-der. Ancient Greek μῠ́ξᾰ (mŭ́xă) English myxo- From Ancient Greek μῠ́ξᾰ (mŭ́xă, “mucus”). By surface analysis, myx- + -o-.

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myxy

Diminutive with -y.

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myza

From translingual Myza.

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mzee

Borrowed from Swahili mzee.

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mâche

Borrowed from French mâche.

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mämmi

Borrowed from Finnish mämmi, from Proto-Finnic *mämmi.

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mêlée

Borrowed from French mêlée.

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möngö

Borrowed from Mongolian мөнгө (möngö).

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müsli

Unadapted borrowing from German Müsli.

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n

Abbreviations.

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n't

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Germanic *ne Proto-West Germanic *ne Proto-Indo-European *h₂ey- Proto-Indo-European *-u Proto-Indo-European *h₂óyu Proto-Indo-European *-osinflu. Proto-Germanic *aiwaz Proto-W

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n-

Abbreviation of number. Borrowed from German n-.

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n-ary

From n (“an arbitrary number”) + -ary.

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n-gon

From n (variable often used to represent natural numbers) + -gon.

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n/a

From Latin non + applicabilis, from applicō (“join to, attach, apply”).

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n00b

Leetspeak rendering of noob, from newbie.

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n0rp

A respelling of porn with the middle letters transposed and o replaced with zero, and then spelled backwards.

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na

From Middle English na, from Old English nā, from Old English ne (“not”) + ā (“ever”). More at no.

4 source sections · 3 relationship mentions

na-na

From a reduplicated clipping of (vagi)na.

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naai

From Afrikaans naai.

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naam

From Middle English nam, naam, from Old English nām (“seizure of property”), probably from Old Norse nám (“occupation; acquisition, learning, study”, literally “taking”), from Proto-Germanic *nēmō (“taking”), from Proto-

1 source section · 10 relationship mentions

naan

From Hindi नान (nān) / Urdu نان (nān), from Classical Persian نان (nān), from Middle Persian LHMA (nān, “bread, food”).

1 source section · 3 relationship mentions

naat

From Classical Persian نعت, which is from Arabic نَعْت (naʕt).

1 source section · 2 relationship mentions

nab

From dialectal nap (“to seize, lay hold of”), probably of North Germanic origin, from Old Swedish nappa (“to pluck, pinch”). Related to Danish nappe (“to tweak, snatch at, catch, seize”), Swedish nappa (“to take, grab, p

2 source sections · 4 relationship mentions

nab-

From cannabinol.

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nabal

Borrowed from Korean 나발(喇叭) (nabal).

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

naban

Borrowed from Burmese နပန်း (na.pan:).

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

nabby

Of uncertain origin, but perhaps an alteration of the adjective nobby (“elegant, graceful”), on account of the appearance of such skiffs.

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nabe

Clipping of neighborhood; compare hood. In attributive use, attested since 1922; in noun sense “neighborhood”, since 1942; in noun sense “neighborhood theater”, since 1933, originally in New York City.

2 source sections · 1 relationship mention

nabi

From Arabic نَبِيّ (nabiyy, “prophet”).

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nabk

Borrowed from Arabic نَبْق (nabq).

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nabla

From Latin nabla, from Ancient Greek νάβλα (nábla, “Phoenician harp”), from ancient Hebrew נֵבֶל (nḗḇel) or a Phoenician cognate. Doublet of nebel, which comes via the modern Hebrew נֵ֤בֶל.

1 source section · 3 relationship mentions

nabob

In colloquial usage in English since 1612, from a corruption of Hindustani नवाब (navāb) / نواب (navāb, “nawab”), perhaps via Portuguese nababo, from Classical Persian نَوَّاب (nawwāb), from Arabic نُوَّاب (nuwwāb), the h

1 source section · 3 relationship mentions

nabs

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

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nacho

Back-formation from nachos.

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nacre

Borrowed from Middle French nacre, from Medieval Latin nacchara, ultimately derived from Arabic نَقَّارَة (naqqāra). Doublet of nagara, nagada, naqareh, and naker. Also present in nacarat.

1 source section · 7 relationship mentions

nacry

From nacre + -y.

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nacré

French

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nad

Clipping of gonad.

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nada

Borrowed from Spanish nada (“nothing”). Doublet of natal, Natal, née, and Noel.

1 source section · 5 relationship mentions

nade

Clipping of grenade.

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nadir

From Medieval Latin nadir, from Arabic نَظِير السَّمْت (naẓīr as-samt), composed of نَظِير (naẓīr, “counterpart, corresponding to”) and السَّمْت (as-samt, “the zenith”).

1 source section · 1 relationship mention

nads

Clipping of gonads.

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naeve

Latin naevus.

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naff

Perhaps from Polari, 1960s. Further etymology unknown; perhaps a conscious corruption of either fanny or eff (off) (see naff off).

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nafs

From Arabic نَفْس (nafs).

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

nag

From Middle English nagg, nage, nagge (“horse, small riding horse, pony”), cognate with Dutch negge, neg (“horse”), German Nickel (“small horse”). Perhaps related to English neigh.

2 source sections · 7 relationship mentions

naga

From an Australian Aboriginal language; cf. Wulna nākā (“dress, covering”)

2 source sections · 3 relationship mentions

nagak

Borrowed from Korean 나각(螺角) (nagak).

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naggy

Etymology tree Middle English nagge English nag Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English naggy From nag + -y.

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nagid

From Hebrew נגיד (nagíd).

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

nagor

From French [Term?], said to have been named by Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, from earlier nanguer; compare Nanger.

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nah

Colloquial/unarticulated form of no + -uh. Compare yeah = yes + -uh.

2 source sections · 1 relationship mention · brief record

nahal

Borrowed from Hebrew נַחַל.

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nahor

Borrowed from Assamese নাহৰ (nahor), ultimately from Sanskrit नागकेसर (nāgakesara).

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nai

Borrowed from Hindi नाई (nāī).

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naiad

From Latin Nāïas, from Ancient Greek Νᾱϊάς (Nāïás, “naiad”), from νάω (náō, “to flow”).

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naib

From Urdu نائب (nāib) / Hindi नाइब (nāib), नायब (nāyab), from Arabic نَائِب (nāʔib).

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naik

From Sanskrit नायक (nāyaka, “leader, governor”).

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nail

From Middle English nail, nayl, Old English næġl, from Proto-West Germanic *nagl, from Proto-Germanic *naglaz, from Proto-Indo-European *h₃nogʰ- (“nail”). Cognates Compare North Frisian Nail (“nail”), Saterland Frisian N

2 source sections · 22 relationship mentions

naily

From nail + -y.

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nain

Borrowed from Welsh nain (“grandmother”).

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naio

From Hawaiian naio.

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naira

A contraction of Nigeria, coined by Federal Commissioner for Finance Obafemi Awolowo.

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nait

From Middle English naiten, nayten, borrowed from Old Norse neita, later variant of níta (“to deny, refuse”). Cognate with Icelandic neita (“to deny”), Danish nægte (“to deny”), Old English nǣtan (“to annoy, afflict, pre

4 source sections · 17 relationship mentions

naive

Etymology tree French naïf French naïvebor. English naive Borrowed from French naïve, feminine form of naïf, from Latin nātīvus (“native, natural”). Doublet of native.

1 source section · 3 relationship mentions

naja

From Sanskrit नाग (nāga), probably ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *nogʷós (“naked”).

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najis

Borrowed from Arabic نَجِس (najis).

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naka

Borrowed from Hindustani نَاکَا (nākā) / नाका (nākā).

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nakba

Borrowed from Arabic نَكْبَة (nakba, “disaster, catastrophe”); see further at Nakba.

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nake

From Middle English naken (“to nake”), from Old English nacian (“to bare, strip, make naked”), from Proto-Germanic *nakwōną (“to make naked”), from Proto-Indo-European *nogʷ- (“to make naked”). Cognate with Old Norse nǫk

1 source section · 5 relationship mentions

naked

From Middle English naked, from Old English nacod, from Proto-West Germanic *nak(k)wad, from Proto-Germanic *nakwadaz, from Proto-Indo-European *negʷ- (“naked”). Doublet of nude (remotely).

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naken

From Middle English nakenen, nacnen, equivalent to nake + -en.

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naker

borrowed from Old French nacaire, nacre (cognate with Italian nacchera, mediaeval Latin nacara), ultimately derived from Arabic نَقَّارَة (naqqāra, “drum”). Doublet of nacre.

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nakey

Diminutive + -y.

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nakfa

From Tigrinya ናቕፋ (nax̣fa, “Nakfa, Eritrea”).

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

nakie

From nake + -ie (“photograph”), after selfie.

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nal-

From nalorphine.

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naled

From Russian на́ледь (náledʹ).

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nalki

From Hindi नालकी (nālkī).

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nall

From Middle English a nal (“an awl”).

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nalla

From Hindi नाला (nālā)

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namaz

Derived from Ottoman Turkish نماز (namâz) (Turkish namaz) and Urdu نماز (namāz), and their source, Classical Persian نماز (namāz).

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name

PIE word *h₁nómn̥ Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁nómn̥ Proto-Germanic *namô Proto-West Germanic *namō Old English nama Middle English name English name From Middle English name, nome, from Old English nama, noma,

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namee

From name + -ee.

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namer

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁nómn̥ Proto-Germanic *namô Proto-West Germanic *namō Old English nama Middle English name English name Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-os? Proto-Indo-European *-o- Pr

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namu

From Māori namu. Compare Malay nyamuk (“a mosquito”).

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namul

From Korean 나물 (namul).

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namus

Etymology tree Classical Syriac ܢܡܘܣܐ (nāmōsā)bor. Arabic نَامُوس (nāmūs)bor. English namus From Arabic نَامُوس (nāmūs). Doublet of nome and nomos.

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nan

From Nan, pet form of the formerly very common female given names Anne and Agnes. As a nursemaid and grandmother, a clipping of earlier nana, from nanny under the probable influence of mama, also from Nan. Compare Mary.

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nana

An apheretic form of banana.

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nance

From nancy. As a verb, cf. prance, dance, and mince.

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nancy

From Nancy, pet form of the female given names Agnes and Anne, under influence from earlier nan (“serving girl, maid; male homosexual”), itself from Nan, another pet form of the same names. Compare Mary.

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nandu

From French nandou from Spanish ñandú from Paraguayan Guarani ñandu guasu.

1 source section · 3 relationship mentions

nang

Multicultural London English, from Jamaican English, from Jamaican Creole nyanga, potentially from West African languages, such as Mende (Sierra Leone) nyanga (“ostentation; showing off”) or Hausa yanga (“boastfulness”).

1 source section · 3 relationship mentions

nanga

From Acholi naŋa.

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

nani

Borrowed from Japanese 何 (nani).

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

naniq

From Inupiaq naniq.

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

nanmu

Borrowed from Mandarin 楠木 (nánmù).

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nanna

Possibly derived from Proto-Celtic *nana (“grandmother”); probably from a Proto-Indo-European root imitative of a child babbling, similar to Ancient Greek νάννα (nánna). See also nanny. Compare Welsh nain, Sicilian nanna

1 source section · 9 relationship mentions

nanny

From nan (“grandmother; nursemaid”) + -y. The root is from nana (“grandma; nanny”), which is from nanna (“grandmother”), which is possibly derived from Proto-Celtic *nana (“grandmother”). See also Proto-Brythonic *nanī,

1 source section · 13 relationship mentions

nano

From nano-, from Latin nānus, from Ancient Greek νᾶνος (nânos).

1 source section · 2 relationship mentions

nano-

Etymology tree Ancient Greek νᾶνος (nânos)bor. Latin nānusbor. English nano- Borrowed from Latin nānus (“dwarf”), borrowed from Ancient Greek νᾶνος (nânos, “dwarf”).

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions

nanti

Borrowing from Sabir nanti, from Italian niente, from Latin ne gentem (“no person, no one”), nec entem, ne entem or ne inde.

1 source section · 3 relationship mentions

nanto

From Kaurna nanto, a shortening of pindi nanto (literally “European kangaroo”).

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

nanua

From Māori nanua.

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

nao

Borrowed from Spanish nao.

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

naos

From Ancient Greek ναός (naós, “inner part of the temple”).

1 source section · 2 relationship mentions

nap

From Middle English nappen, from Old English hnappian (“to doze, slumber, sleep”), from Proto-West Germanic *hnappōn (“to nap”). Cognate with Old High German hnaffezan, hnaffezzan (whence Middle High German nafzen (“to s

7 source sections · 19 relationship mentions

napa

From the regional and colloquial Japanese term 菜っ葉 (nappa, “leaves of any vegetable”).

2 source sections · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

nape

From Middle English nape, naape, of uncertain origin. Possibly from Old French hanap (“goblet”), from Frankish *hnapp, from Proto-Germanic *hnappaz ( > Old English hnæpp, hnæp (“cup, bowl, goblet”)), as there is a hollow

3 source sections · 10 relationship mentions

napoo

World War I British and ANZAC army slang, probably a corruption of French “il n′y a plus” (“there is no more”).

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

nappe

From French nappe. Doublet of map, mop, and nape.

1 source section · 4 relationship mentions

nappy

A diminutive in -y. The base is probably napkin but possibly French nappe directly (note that napkin is already a diminutive).

4 source sections · 5 relationship mentions

napu

From Malay napuh

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

naqib

From Arabic نَقِب (naqib)

1 source section · 2 relationship mentions · brief record

naras

From Khoekhoe !naras (“naras fruit”), !narab (“naras plant”).

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

narc

Clipping of narcotics (control) officer.

4 source sections · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

narco

Clipping of narcotics. From narcotic.

2 source sections · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

nard

From Middle English narde, from Old French narde, Latin nardus, from Ancient Greek νάρδος (nárdos), from Phoenician [Term?], Sanskrit नलद (nálada, “Indian narde”). Doublet of nardus.

3 source sections · 7 relationship mentions

narg

An acronym for "not a real gentleman" Someone who discusses matters of business when not working.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

naris

From Latin naris (“nostril”). Itself from Latin nāsus with rhotacism.

1 source section · 1 relationship mention · brief record

nark

Uncertain. Perhaps from Angloromani nok (“nose”), from Romani nakh, from Sauraseni Prakrit 𑀡𑀓𑁆𑀓 (ṇakka), ultimately a doublet of nose.

2 source sections · 3 relationship mentions

narky

From nark + -y.

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions · brief record

narm

Coined by TV Tropes in 2007, referring to a scene in Six Feet Under's final season where main protagonist Nate Fisher complains about his arm being numb while suffering a brain embolism and repeats the words "numb arm",

1 source section · 0 relationship mentions

nart

From a North Caucasian source (see West Circassian нарт (nart) and Ossetian нарт (nart)), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂nḗr ("man, hero").

1 source section · 4 relationship mentions

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These source reports extend Wiktionary’s work through Kaikki / Wiktextract, with attribution and visible extraction limits. A relationship mentioned in a source is not automatically the immediate parent of a word. Newly written research analyses cite their own references. The reviewed graph has a separate evidence contract and counter.

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