Online Etymology Dictionary

16/07/2026

What's this we hear? People puzzled and saying "pshaw" isn't a word? This motel stood for decades along the road from Philly to Lancaster, built by a man named Shaw. An online regional history site explains it: "Obviously, the name “Oh! Shaw” came primarily from his own surname. “Oh! Shaw” was probably a version of “Oh pshaw”, with a silent “p” ...."

13/07/2026

Brand-name myth-busting. https://www.etymonline.com/columns/post/a.1.-sauce-was-not-invented-for-king-george-iv:-the-real-history-of-h.w.-brand

29/06/2026

https://www.etymonline.com/columns/post/the-year-america-discovered-'soccer'-2

23/05/2026

bee season is upon us

A "spelling bee" ought to be in a class with a talking horse or a flying pig.

09/05/2026

"Laundry list" is a dismissive modern term for a long and bewildering list. But laundry lists are why written language exists.

Why is a large, bewildering catalogue of names called a "laundry list," and why are such lists at the roots of writing?

08/05/2026

You cook and eat outdoors; is it a barbecue, a cookout, a picnic or something else?

https://www.etymonline.com/columns/post/shall-we-have-a-picnic,-cookout,-or-barbecue%3F

10/02/2026

New column!

A few of the faces glimpsed from the time-travel train while researching "handle with kid gloves"

02/02/2026

Spotted in the Epstein files

https://www.patreon.com/posts/bombshell-in-149679485

27/01/2026

St. Isidore of Seville is commonly pictured with bees or pens, which are much alike

15/01/2026

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/building-the-online-etymology-dictionary-with-doug-harper/id173429229?i=1000745270514

Etymonline's Doug Harper sat down recently with Grammar Girl's Mignon Fogarty and we nerdified about words. See what you think! And don't forget to support your creators. Bonus tracks on the 'cast for subscribers to her podcast. "Grammar" is top of the etymonline trending list today. Take it as a sign.