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Usenet Posted 23 years ago
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Looking for English words of noneuropean origin
Hello,
Most English words have European origin: specifically, from Germanic, French, Latin, Greek, etc. I'm interested in finding English words whose origins are elsewhere. (Examples include chocolate, nadir, kvetch, etc.)
In theory I could go through my dictionary and look at the etymology of each word, one after the other. Has somebody already done that? Better yet, is such a guide online (i.e. free)?
If anyone cares to answer, please respond to the group and not to my email.
Thank you very much!
Ted Shoemaker
Most English words have European origin: specifically, from Germanic, French, Latin, Greek, etc. I'm interested in finding English words whose origins are elsewhere. (Examples include chocolate, nadir, kvetch, etc.)
In theory I could go through my dictionary and look at the etymology of each word, one after the other. Has somebody already done that? Better yet, is such a guide online (i.e. free)?
If anyone cares to answer, please respond to the group and not to my email.
Thank you very much!
Ted Shoemaker
Top answer
[nq:1]Most English words have European origin: specifically, from Germanic, French, Latin, Greek, etc. I'm interested in finding English words whose ... e.
- [nq:1]Most English words have European origin: specifically, from Germanic, French, Latin, Greek, etc.
- I'm interested in finding English words whose ...
- e.
- free)?
- [/nq] This isn't quite what you're looking for, but it might help.
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21 Answers
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[nq:1]Most English words have European origin: specifically, from Germanic, French, Latin, Greek, etc. I'm interested in finding English words whose ... a guide online (i.e. free)? If anyone cares to answer, please respond to the group and not to my email.[/nq]
This isn't quite what you're looking for, but it might help. If you have a dictionary on a CD-ROM that has an advanced search feature,
This isn't quite what you're looking for, but it might help. If you have a dictionary on a CD-ROM that has an advanced search feature,
00
I'm not trying to be picky, I just need some clarfication: what do you mean by "European origin"?
You mentioned the word "kvetch" as an example of a word of non-European origin. As any dictionary can tell you, "kvetch" is an Yidish word, and Yidish is not Hebrew.
You mentioned the word "kvetch" as an example of a word of non-European origin. As any dictionary can tell you, "kvetch" is an Yidish word, and Yidish is not Hebrew.
00
[nq:1]Hello, Most English words have European origin: specifically, from Germanic, French, Latin, Greek, etc. I'm interested in finding English words ... anyone cares to answer, please respond to the group and not to my email. Thank you very much! Ted Shoemaker[/nq]
Well, bungalow is an Indian word.
But isn't English an Indo-something language ?
Bob Martin
Well, bungalow is an Indian word.
But isn't English an Indo-something language ?
Bob Martin
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[nq:1]Hello, Most English words have European origin: specifically, from Germanic, French, Latin, Greek, etc. I'm interested in finding English words ... each word, one after the other. Has somebody already done that? Better yet, is such a guide online (i.e. free)?[/nq]
Walter W. Skeat's " Concise Etymological Dictionary of the English Language" (Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1882 and later) is ava
Walter W. Skeat's " Concise Etymological Dictionary of the English Language" (Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1882 and later) is ava
00
How about, mostly food related:
"potato" from batata, papa, Inca.
barbecue, from barbacoa, Taino through Spanish.
tortilla, as understood by Mexicans, (tortilla in Spanish is omelette), as well as other Mexican words such as tamale, frijole (Spanish: poroto), tomato (Aztec tomatl), chiclet, totem (pole), couscous, sarape (zarape), etc.
Personal Page
"potato" from batata, papa, Inca.
barbecue, from barbacoa, Taino through Spanish.
tortilla, as understood by Mexicans, (tortilla in Spanish is omelette), as well as other Mexican words such as tamale, frijole (Spanish: poroto), tomato (Aztec tomatl), chiclet, totem (pole), couscous, sarape (zarape), etc.
Personal Page
00
[nq:1]Hello, Most English words have European origin: specifically, from Germanic, French, Latin, Greek, etc. I'm interested in finding English words ... anyone cares to answer, please respond to the group and not to my email. Thank you very much! Ted Shoemaker[/nq]
I think "amok" as in "to run amok" is Indonesian.
Berko
I think "amok" as in "to run amok" is Indonesian.
Berko
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[nq:1]I think "amok" as in "to run amok" is Indonesian.[/nq]
My dictionary says it's Malay. It also thinks that, in English at any rate, "amuck" is the earliest spelling.
Matti
My dictionary says it's Malay. It also thinks that, in English at any rate, "amuck" is the earliest spelling.
Matti
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[nq:1]Hello, Most English words have European origin: specifically, from Germanic, French, Latin, Greek, etc. I'm interested in finding English words whose origins are elsewhere. (Examples include chocolate, nadir, kvetch, etc.)[/nq]
Raccoon.
Brian Rodenborn
Raccoon.
Brian Rodenborn
00
[nq:2]Most English words have European origin: specifically, from Germanic, French, ... whose origins are elsewhere. (Examples include chocolate, nadir, kvetch, etc.)[/nq]
[nq:1]Raccoon.[/nq]
Bint,
Rooster,
Figuring,
Pretzel,
Twinky,
Congress,
Dingo,
Redneck,
Chili-con-carni,
Color,
Shufti,
Antenna,
Indian,
Functionality,
Dawg,
**
[nq:1]Raccoon.[/nq]
Bint,
Rooster,
Figuring,
Pretzel,
Twinky,
Congress,
Dingo,
Redneck,
Chili-con-carni,
Color,
Shufti,
Antenna,
Indian,
Functionality,
Dawg,
**
00
[nq:2]Raccoon.[/nq]
[nq:1]Bint, Rooster, Figuring, Pretzel, Twinky, Congress, Dingo, Redneck, Chili-con-carni, Color, Shufti, Antenna, Indian, Functionality, Dawg, ***, Hawaii, Opossum, Hooker, Khowaja, ... letter "Z" when it shouldbe spellled with an "S", eg. Utilization and Corporatization. BR Harry harryvpo(at)hotmail(dot)com +46 73 629 5002[/nq]
If you have access to the OED Online, yo
[nq:1]Bint, Rooster, Figuring, Pretzel, Twinky, Congress, Dingo, Redneck, Chili-con-carni, Color, Shufti, Antenna, Indian, Functionality, Dawg, ***, Hawaii, Opossum, Hooker, Khowaja, ... letter "Z" when it shouldbe spellled with an "S", eg. Utilization and Corporatization. BR Harry harryvpo(at)hotmail(dot)com +46 73 629 5002[/nq]
If you have access to the OED Online, yo
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