Online Etymology Dictionary

nerd: 1951, U.S. student slang, probably an alteration of 1940s slang nert "stupid or crazy person," itself an alteration of nut. The word turns up in a Dr. Seuss book from 1950 ("If I Ran the Zoo"), which may have contributed to its rise. Adjective nerdy is from 1978.
Nereid: "sea-nymph," 1513, from Gk. Nereis (gen. Nereidos), daughter of the ancient sea-god Nereus, whose name is related to naros "flowing, liquid, I flow" (see naiad).
nertz: 1932, originally Amer.Eng. university slang, colloquial or euphemistic pronunciation of nuts.
nerve: late 14c., nerf "sinew, tendon," from M.L. nervus "nerve," from L. nervus "sinew, tendon," metathesis of pre-L. *neuros, from PIE *(s)neu- (cf. Skt. snavan- "band, sinew," Arm. neard "sinew," Gk. neuron "sinew, tendon," in Galen "nerve"). Sense of "fibers that convey impulses between the brain and the body" is from c.1600. Figurative sense of "feeling, courage" is first attested c.1600; that of "courage, boldness" is from 1809; "impudence, cheek" is 1887. Nerves "nervousness" is attested from 1839; to get on someone's nerves is from 1903. War of nerves "psychological warfare" is from 1940. Nervy "full of courage" is from 1882.
nervous: c.1400, "affecting the sinews," from L. nervosus "sinewy, vigorous," from nervus "sinew, nerve" (see nerve). Sense of "of or belonging to the nerves" in the modern sense is from 1665. Meaning "suffering disorder of the nervous system" is from 1734; illogical sense "restless, agitated, lacking nerve" is 1740. Widespread popular use as a euphemism for mental forced the medical community to coin neurological to replace it in the older sense. Nervous wreck first attested 1899.
nesh: "tender, delicate, weak," now only a Northern England dialect word, from O.E. hnesce "soft in texture" (cognate with early modern Du. nesch, Goth. hnasqus), of unknown origin.
ness: obsolete except in place names, is O.E. næs "a promontory," related to nasu "nose" (see nose).
nest (n.): O.E. nest "bird's nest, snug retreat," from P.Gmc. *nistaz (cf. M.L.G., M.Du., Ger. nest), from PIE *nizdo- (cf. Skt. nidah "resting place, nest," L. nidus "nest," O.C.S. gnezdo, O.Ir. net, Welsh nyth, Bret. nez "nest"), probably from *ni "down" + *sed- "sit." Used since M.E. in ref. to various accumulations of things (e.g. a nest of drawers, early 18c.). The verb is O.E. nistan, from P.Gmc. *nistijanan. Nest egg "retirement savings" is from 1700, originally "a real or artificial egg left in a nest to induce the hen to go on laying there" (1606).
nestle: O.E. nestlian "build a nest," from nest (see nest). Figurative sense of "settle (oneself) comfortably, snuggle" is first recorded 1547.
nestling: 1399, "bird too young to leave the nest," from nest (q.v.) + dim. suffix -ling.
Nestor: name for "old king renowned for wise counsel," 1588, from Gk., name of the aged and wise hero in the "Iliad." In Church history, a Nestorian (1449) is a follower of Nestorius, 5c. patriarch of Constantinople, whose doctrine attributed distinct divine and human persons to Christ and was condemned as heresy.
net (n.): O.E. net "mesh," from P.Gmc. *natjan (cf. O.N., Du. net, Swed. nät, O.H.G. nezzi, Ger. Netz, Goth. nati "net"), originally "something knotted," from PIE *ned- "to twist, knot" (cf. Skt. nahyati "binds, ties," L. nodus "knot").
net (adj.): "remaining after deductions," 1520, from earlier sense of "trim, elegant, clean, neat" (c.1300), from O.Fr. net "clean, pure, bright" (from the same source as neat, q.v.), meaning infl. by It. netto "remaining after deductions." The verb in the sense of "to gain as a net sum" is first recorded 1758.
nether: O.E. niþera, neoþera "down, downwards, below, beneath," from P.Gmc. *nitheraz (cf. O.S. nithar, O.N. niðr, O.Fris. nither, Du. neder, Ger. nieder), comp. of PIE *ni- "down, below" (cf. Skt. ni "down," nitaram "downward," Gk. neiothen "from below," O.C.S. nizu "low, down"). Has been replaced in most senses by lower. The Netherlands formerly included Flanders and thus were equivalent geographically and etymologically to the Low Countries.
nettle: O.E. netele, from P.Gmc. *natilon (cf. O.S. netila, M.Du. netele, Ger. Nessel, M.Da. nædlæ "nettle"), dim. of *naton, of unknown origin, perhaps from the same source as net (n.). The verb meaning "to beat with nettles" is from c.1440; nettled in fig. sense of "vexed, irritated" is from c.1400.
network (n.): "net-like arrangement of threads, wires, etc.," 1560, from net (n.) + work (n.). Extended sense of "any complex, interlocking system" is from 1839 (orig. in ref. to transport by rivers, canals, and railways). Meaning "broadcasting system of multiple transmitters" is from 1914; sense of "interconnected group of people" is from 1947. The verb, in ref. to computers, is from 1972; in ref. to persons, it is attested from 1980s.
Neufchatel: "type of soft, white cheese," c.1865, from Neufchâtel, small town in Normandy where it was first made.
neural: "pertaining to a nerve or nerves," from Gk. neuron "nerve" (see neuro-) + adj. suffix -al.
neuralgia: c.1830, from Gk. neuron "nerve" (see neuro-) + -algia, from algos "pain" (see -algia). Perhaps infl. by Fr. névralgie (1801).
neuro-: Gk. neuro-, comb. form of neuron "nerve," originally "sinew, tendon, cord, bowstring," also "strength, vigor," from PIE *sneurom (cf. L. nervus; see nerve).
neurology: "scientific study of the nervous system," 1681, from Mod.L. neurologia, from Mod.Gk. neurologia (1664), from neuro- (see neuro-) + -logia "study."
neuron: "a nerve cell with appendages," 1891, from Ger. Neuron, from Gk. neuron (see neuro-). Used earlier (1884) for "the spinal cord and brain."
neurosis: 1776, "functional derangement arising from disorders of the nervous system," coined by Scot, physician William Cullen (1710-90) from Gk. neuron "nerve" (see neuro-) + Mod.L. -osis "abnormal condition." Used in a general psychological sense since 1871; clinical use in psychiatry dates from 1923.
neurotic (adj.): 1775, "acting upon or stimulating the nerves," from Gk. neuron "nerve" (see neuro-) + -otic, as in hypnotic. Sense of "affected by neurosis" is 1887. The noun meaning "a neurotic person" is from 1896.
neuter (adj.): late 14c., of grammatical gender, "neither masculine nor feminine," from L. neuter, lit. "neither one nor the other," from ne- "not, no" (see un-) + uter "either (of two);" probably a loan-translation of Gk. oudeteros "neither, neuter." In 16c., it had the sense of "taking neither side, neutral." The verb is 1903, from the adj., originally in ref. to pet cats.
neutral: c.1449 as a noun, "one who remains neutral," from M.Fr. neutral, from L. neutralis "of neuter gender," from neuter (see neuter). The adj. sense of "not taking sides in a fight" is 1549, probably from a similar meaning in M.L. Meaning "disengaged position in gear mechanisms" is from 1912. Neutral corner (1952) is from boxing.
neutrality: 1480, "the neutral party in any dispute," from M.Fr. neutralite, from M.L. neutralitatem (nom. neutralitas), from L. neutralis (see neutral). Introduced in Fr. 14c. by Jean Froissart. Meaning "a neutral attitude" is from 1494.
neutralize: 1759, "to render neutral" (in a chemical sense), from Fr. neutraliser, from neutral (see neutral). Meaning "to counterbalance, to kill by opposing" is from 1795.
neutrino: 1934, from It. neutrino, coined 1933 by It. physicist Enrico Fermi (1901-54) from neutro "neuter" + -ino, dim. suffix.
neutron: 1921, coined by W.D. Harkins of Chicago from neutr(al) + -on, as in electron. First record of neutron bomb is from 1960.
Nevada: U.S. state, named for Sierra Nevada mountain range, lit. "snowy mountains," from alt. form of Sp. nevado "snowy" (see neve).
neve: "field of granular snow, firn," 1843, from Fr. névé (19c.), probably from Savoyard névi "mass of snow," from L. nivem (nom. nix) "snow" (cf. Fr. niege).
never: O.E. næfre, compound of ne "not, no" (from PIE base *ne- "no, not;" see un-) + æfre "ever." Early used as an emphatic form of not (as still in never mind). O.E., unlike its modern descendant, had the useful custom of attaching ne to words to create their negatives, as in nabban for na habban "not to have." It. giammai, Fr. jamais, Sp. jamas are from L. iam "already" + magis "more;" thus lit. "at any time, ever," originally with a negative, but this has been so thoroughly absorbed in sense as to be formally omitted. Phrase never say die "don't despair" is from 1865, originally among sailors. Never mind "pay it no attention" is from 1795. Never Never Land is first attested in Australia as a name for the uninhabited northern part of Queensland, perhaps so called because anyone who had gone there once never wished to return. Meaning "imaginary, illusory or utopian place" first attested 1900 in Amer.Eng.
nevermore: c.1200, from never + more.
nevertheless: c.1300, neuer þe lesse; as one word from early 14c., neuerþeles. The sense of never here is "not at all; none the," as in unmerged expressions such as never the wiser, never the worse. M.E. also had neverthelater in same sense.
Nevin: surname and masc. proper name, from Ir./Gael. Naomhin "little saint."
new: O.E. neowe, niowe, earlier niwe, from P.Gmc. *newjaz (cf. O.Fris. nie, Du. nieuw, Ger. neu, Dan., Swed. ny, Goth. niujis "new"), from PIE *newos (cf. Skt. navah, Pers. nau, Hittite newash, Gk. neos, Lith. naujas, O.C.S. novu, Rus. novyi, L. novus, O.Ir. nue, Welsh newydd "new"). Newly-wed (n.) first recorded 1918. Newborn is c.1300 as an adj., 1879 as a noun. New math in ref. to a system of teaching mathematics based on investigation and discovery is from 1958. New England was named 1616 by Capt. John Smith; Newfoundland is from 1585. New World to designate phenomena of the Western Hemisphere first attested 1823, in Lord Byron.
New Age: 1971, in ref. to a modern spiritual movement, from new + age. It had been used at various times since at least the 1840s.
New Wave: 1960, of cinema (from Fr. Nouvelle Vague, late 1950s); 1976 as a name for the more restrained and melodic alternative to punk rock.
New Year's Eve: c.1300; "þer þay dronken & dalten ... on nwe gerez euen." The Julian calendar began on January 1, but the Christian Church frowned on pagan celebrations of this and chose the Feast of the Annunciation (March 25) as its New Year's Day. The civic year in England continued to begin January 1 until late 12c., and even though legal documents then shifted to March 25, popular calendars and almanacs continued to begin on January 1. The calendar reform of 1751 restored the Julian New Year. New Year's was the main midwinter festival in Scotland from 17c., when Protestant authorities banned Christmas, and continued so after England reverted to Christmas, hence the Scottish flavor ("Auld Lang Syne," etc.). New Year's gathering in public places began 1878 in London, after new bells were installed in St. Paul's.
newel: mid-14c., "pillar from which steps of a winding staircase radiate," from O.Fr. noel, novel "knob, newel, kernel, stone," from V.L. *nodellus "little knot," dim. of L. nodulus, dim. of nodus "knot." Or the O.Fr. word may be from Gallo-Romance *nucale, from L. nux "nut." The meaning "post at the top or bottom of a staircase" is from 1833.
newfangled: late 15c., "addicted to novelty," lit. "ready to grasp at all new things," from adj. newefangel "inclined to take" (late 14c.), from new + -fangel, from root of O.E. fon "to capture" (see fang). Sense of "lately come into fashion" first recorded 1530s.
Newgate: 1596, in ref. to the famous London prison, which was torn down 1902-3.
news: late 14c., plural of new (n.) "new thing," from new (adj.), q.v.; after Fr. nouvelles, used in Bible translations to render M.L. nova (neut. pl.) "news," lit. "new things." Sometimes still regarded as plural, 17c.-19c. Meaning "tidings" is early 15c. The News in the Virginia city Newport News is said to derive from the name of one of its founders, William Newce.
newscast: 1930, from news + -cast, from broadcast.
newsletter: 1670s, from news + letter. It fell from use until it was revived 20c.
newspaper: 1660s, though the thing itself is much older, from news + paper.
Newspeak: "artificial language of official communication in George Orwell's novel 'Nineteen Eighty-Four,' " 1949, from new + speak. Frequently applied to propagandistic warped English.
newsreel: 1916, from news + reel.
newsworthy: 1932, from news + worthy.