Etymology: Word Origins

The answers to all these questions lie in the study of etymology. This concerns the roots of words and how the sounds and spellings, as well as the meanings, have evolved over time.

In this section of Fun-with-words.com we concentrate mainly on surprising, interesting, and amusing etymologies of words used commonly in the English language today. To discover how a word came about often puts it in an entirely new light.

Discover where these words came from and what they originally meant:

• Assassin
• Avocado (Pear)
• Hazard
• Malaria
• Pedigree
• Phony
• Quarantine

Read about the history of each of these phrases and expressions here too:

• To break the ice
• To make hay while the sun shines
• To throw the book at someone
• Rraining cats and dogs
• Mad as a hatter
• Without rhyme or reason
• Crocodile tears
• To make no bones about
• To throw in the towel

Etymology Pages on Fun-with-words.com

• What is etymology? introduces the subject.
• Etymology: amusing word histories.
• Etymology: fascinating sayings and expressions.
• Recommended books on etymology and etymological dictionaries.

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