Online Etymology Dictionary

habit: early 13c., from O.Fr. habit, from L. habitus "condition, demeanor, appearance, dress," originally pp. of habere "to have, to hold, possess," from PIE base *ghabh- "to seize, take, hold, have, give, receive" (cf. Skt. gabhasti- "hand, forearm;" O.Ir. gaibim "I take, hold, I have," gabal "act of taking;" Lith. gabana "armful," gabenti "to remove;" Goth. gabei "riches;" O.E. giefan, O.N. gefa "to give"). Base sense probably "to hold," which can be either in offering or in taking. Applied in Latin to both inner and outer states of being, and taken over in both sense by English, though meaning of "dress" is now restricted to monks and nuns. Drug sense is from 1887. Habitual first attested 1520s.
habitat: 1762, as a technical term in Latin texts on Eng. flora and fauna, lit. "it inhabits," third pers. sing. pres. indic. of habitare "to live, dwell," freq. of habere "to have, to hold, possess" (see habit). General sense of "dwelling place" is first attested 1854. Habitant "Canadian of Fr. descent" (1789) is from Fr. word meaning "inhabitant" (lit. the prp. of habiter "to inhabit, dwell"), and was the usual word for planters in 18c. Quebec.
cuckold: mid-13c., from O.Fr. cucuault, from cucu (see cuckoo) + pejorative suffix. So called from the female bird's alleged habit of changing mates, or her authentic habit of leaving eggs in another bird's nest. The verb is 1580s, from the noun. Related: Cuckoldry (1520s).
thews: O.E. þeawes "customs, manners, personal qualities," pl. of þeaw "habit, custom," from P.Gmc. *thawaz (cf. O.S. thau "usage, custom, habit," O.H.G. thau "discipline"); no certain cognates outside W.Gmc. Meaning "bodily powers or parts indicating strength, good physique" is attested from 1566, from notion of "good qualities." Acquired a sense of "muscular development" when it was revived by Scott (1818).
condolences: "formal declaration of sympathy," 1670s, pl. of condolence. Reason for the plural is unclear; earliest references are to expressions from groups of persons; perhaps the habit stuck.
cachectic: 1630s, ult. from Gk. kakhektikos "in a bad habit of body" (see cachexia).
chaffinch: Fringilla cælebs, O.E. ceaffinc, lit. "chaff-finch," so called for its habit of eating waste grain on farms.
nuthatch: mid-14c., probably is so called from its habit of breaking open and eating nuts; from nut + second element related to hack (v.) and hatchet.
pack-rat: common name for the N.Amer. bushytailed woodrat (Neotoma cinerea) is attested from 1885, from pack (v.), from the rodent's habit of dragging objects off to their holes. Used figuratively or allusively of persons who won't discard anything from c.1850, which means either the rat's name is older than that or the human sense is the original one.
ethos: revived by Palgrave in 1851 from Gk. ethos "moral character, nature, disposition, habit, custom," from suffixed form of PIE base *s(w)e- (see idiom). An important concept in Aristotle (e.g. "Rhetoric" II xii-xiv).
windhover: "kestrel," 1674, from wind (n.) + hover; so called from the bird's habit of hovering in the wind. An earlier name for it was windfucker (1599).
ebriety: "state or habit of being intoxicated," 1580s, from L. ebrietatem, from ebrius "drunk." The opposite of sobriety.
dishabille: 1673, from Fr. déshabillé "undress," from des- "dis-" + habiller "to dress," originally "prepare, arrange" (see habit).
a (2): as in twice a day, etc., from O.E. an "on," in this case "on each." The sense was extended from time to measure, price, place, etc. The habit of tacking a onto a gerund (as in a-hunting we will go) died out 18c.
pangolin: 1774, "scaly toothless mammal of Java," from Malay peng-goling "roller," from its habit of curling into a ball; from peng- (denominative prefix) + goling "to roll." Later extended to related species in Asia and Africa.
cacoethes: "itch for doing something," 1560s, from L., from Gk. kakoethes "ill-habit," from kakos "bad" + ethe- "disposition, character" (see ethos). Most famously, in Juvenal's insanabile scribendi cacoethes "incurable passion for writing."
binnacle: "wooden box for a ship's compass," c.1750, corruption of bittacle (1622), which is probably from Sp. bitacula or Port. bitacola, both from L. habitaculum, from habitare "to inhabit (see habit).
Sufi: member of a Muslim mystical order, 1653 (earlier Sufian, 1585), from Arabic sufi, lit. "man of wool" (i.e., "man wearing woolen garments"), from suf "wool." So-called from the habit of "putting on the holy garment" (labs-as-suf) to devote oneself to mysticism.
debt: late 13c., from O.Fr. dete, from L. debitam "thing owed," neut. pp. of debere "to owe," originally, "keep something away from someone," from de- "away" + habere "to have" (see habit). Restored spelling after c.1400 from M.E. dette.
hectic: late 14c., etik, from O.Fr. etique, from L.L. hecticus, from Gk. hektikos "continuous, habitual, consumptive" (of a disease, because of the constant fever), from hexis "habit," from ekhein "have, hold, continue." The Latin -h- was restored in Eng. 1500s. Sense of "feverishly exciting, full of disorganized activity" first recorded 1904.
inhibition: late 14c., from O.Fr. inibicion, from L. inhibitionem (nom. inhibitio) "a restraining," from stem of inhibere "hold in, restrain, hinder," from in- "in, on" + habere "to hold" (see habit). Psychological sense of "involuntary check on an expression of an impulse" is from 1876.
floccinaucinihilipilification: "action or habit of estimating as worthless," 1741, a combination of four Latin words (flocci, nauci, nihili, pilifi) all signifying "at a small price" or "for nothing," which were listed together in a rule of the well-known Eton Latin Grammar. The kind of jocular formation that was possible among educated men in Britain in those days. Just so, as in praesenti, the opening words of mnemonic lines on conjugation in Lilley's 16c. Latin grammar, could stand alone as late as 19c. and be understood to mean "rudiments of Latin."
niacin: "pellagra-preventing vitamin in enriched bread," 1942, coined from ni(cotinic) ac(id) + -in, chemical suffix; suggested by the merican Medical Association as a more commercially viable name than nicotinic acid.
"The new name was found to be necessary because some anti-tobacco groups warned against enriched bread because it would foster the cigarette habit." ["Cooperative Consumer," Feb. 28, 1942]
habiliment: 1422, "munitions, weapons," from M.Fr. habillement, from abiller "prepare or fit out," probably from habile "fit, suitable" (see able). Alternative etymology makes the M.Fr. verb originally mean "reduce a tree by stripping off the branches," from a- "to" + bille "stick of wood." Sense of "clothing, dress" developed 1470, by association with habit (q.v.).
access: early 14c., "an attack of fever," from O.Fr. acces "onslaught" (14c.), from L. accessus "a coming to, an approach," pp. of accedere "approach" (see accede). Meaning "habit or power of getting into the presence of (someone or something)" is from late 14c. As a verb, first recorded 1962. Accession "act of coming to a position," especially of a throne, is 1769 (first recorded in Burke).
morose: 1534 (implied in morosity), "gloomy," from L. morosus "morose, peevish, fastidious," from mos (gen. moris) "habit, custom" (see moral). Though in Eng., manners by itself means "(good) manners," here the implication in L. is "(bad) manners."
castigate: 1607, from L. castigatus pp. of castigare "to purify, chastise," from castus "pure" (see caste) + agere "to do." Sense of "make someone pure by correcting or reproving him."
"If thou didst put this soure cold habit on To castigate thy pride, 'twere well." [Shakespeare, "Timon" IV.iii (1607)]
use (n.): early 13c., from O.Fr. us, from L. usus "use, custom, skill, habit," from pp. stem of uti (see use (v.)). Useful is recorded from 1590s; useless is first attested 1590s.
usage: c.1300, "established practice, custom," from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. usage "custom, habit, experience," from us, from L. usus "use, custom" (see use).
cachexia: 1540s, from Mod.L. cachexia, from Gk. kakhexia, from kakos "bad" + -exia, related to exis "habit or state," from exein "to have, be in a condition."
gavel: "small mallet used by presiding officers at meetings," 1805, Amer.Eng., of unknown origin; perhaps connected with Ger. dial. gaffel "brotherhood, friendly society," from M.H.G. gaffel "society, guild," related to O.E. gafol "tribute," giefan "to give" (see habit). But in some sources gavel also is identified as a type of mason's tool, in which case the extended meaning may be via freemasonry.
luxury: 1340, "lasciviousness, sinful self-indulgence," from O.Fr. luxurie, from L. luxuria "excess, luxury," from luxus "excess, extravagance, magnificence," probably a fig. use of luxus (adj.) "dislocated," which is related to luctari "wrestle, strain." Lost its pejorative taint 17c. Meaning "habit of indulgence in what is choice or costly" is from 1633; that of "sumptuous surroundings" is from 1704; that of "something enjoyable or comfortable beyond life's necessities" is from 1780. First used as an adjective 1930.
chaise: 1701, "pleasure carriage," from Fr., variant of chaire (see chair) due to 15c.-16c. Parisian accent habit of swapping of -r- and -s-, often satirized by Fr. writers. Chaise lounge (1800) is corruption of Fr. chaise longue "long chair," the second word confused in Eng. with lounge.
malady: c.1250, from O.Fr. maladie "sickness, illness, disease," from malade "ill," from L. male habitus "doing poorly, feeling sick," lit. "ill-conditioned," from male "badly" (see mal-) + habitus, pp. of habere "have, hold" (see habit).
gift: 1104, from O.N. gift, from P.Gmc. *giftiz (cf. O.Fris. jefte, M.Du. ghifte "gift," Ger. Mitgift "dowry"), from PIE base *ghabh- "to give or receive" (see habit). O.E. cognate gift meant "bride-price, marriage gift (by the groom), dowry" (O.E. for "giving, gift" was related giefu). Sense of "natural talent" is c.1300.
frock: 1350, from O.Fr. froc "a monk's habit" (12c.), perhaps from Frank. *hroc (cf. O.H.G. hroc "mantle, coat;" O.N. rokkr, O.E. rocc, O.Fris. rokk, Ger. Rock "coat"), from PIE base *rug- "to spin." Another theory traces it to M.L. floccus, from L. floccus "flock of wool." Non-religious use is 1538.
able: mid-14c., from O.Fr. (h)able, from L. habilis "easily handled, apt," verbal adj. from habere "to hold" (see habit). "Easy to be held," hence "fit for a purpose." The silent h- was dropped in Eng. and resisted academic attempts to restore it 16c.-17c., but some derivatives acquired it (e.g. habiliment, habilitate), via French.
"Able-whackets - A popular sea-game with cards, in which the loser is beaten over the palms of the hands with a handkerchief tightly twisted like a rope. Very popular with horny-fisted sailors." [Smyth, "Sailor's Word-Book," 1867]
temperament: c.1412, "proportioned mixture of elements," from L. temperamentum "proper mixture," from temperare "to mix" (see temper). In medieval theory, it meant a combination of qualities (hot, cold, moist, dry) that determined the nature of an organism; this was extended to a combination of the four humors (sanguine, choleric, phlegmatic, and melancholic) that made up a person's characteristic disposition. General sense of "habit of mind, natural disposition" is from 1821. Temperamental "of or pertaining to temperament" is from 1646; in the sense of "moody" it is recorded from 1907.
exhibition: early 15c., from O.Fr. exhibicion, from L. exhibitionem (nom. exhibitio), from exhibere "to show, display," lit. "to hold out," from ex- "out" + habere "to hold" (see habit). Exhibit (v.) is from late 15c. The noun meaning "document or object produced as evidence in court" is from 1620s; transf. use of exhibit A "important piece of evidence" is 1906. Exhibitionist, exhibitionism is 1893, in Craddock's transl. of Krafft-Ebing.
less: O.E. læs (adv.), læssa (adj.), comp. of læs "small;" from P.Gmc. *laisiz "smaller," from PIE base *loiso- "small" (cf. Lith. liesas "thin"). Formerly also "younger," as a transl. of L. minor, a sense now obs. except in James the Less. Used as a comparative of little, but not related to it. Lesser (1459) is a double comparative, "a barbarous corruption of less, formed by the vulgar from the habit of terminating comparatives in -er." [Johnson]. Lessen "to become less" first attested c.1300.
bankrupt: 1530s, from It. banca rotta, lit. "a broken bench," from banca "moneylender's shop," lit. "bench" (see bank (1)) + rotta "broken, defeated, interrupted" from (and remodeled on) L. rupta, fem. pp. of rumpere "to break" (see rupture). "[S]o called from the habit of breaking the bench of bankrupts" [Klein]. The verb is first recorded 1550s.
custom: c.1200, "habitual practice," from O.Fr. costume, from V.L. *consuetumen, from L. consuetudinem (nom. consuetudo) "habit or usage," from consuetus, pp. of consuescere "accustom," from com- intens. prefix + suescere "become used to, accustom oneself," related to sui, gen. of suus "oneself," from PIE *swe- "oneself" (see idiom). Replaced O.E. þeaw. Sense of a "regular" toll or tax on goods is early 14c.
provender: 1306, "allowance paid each chapter member of a cathedral," from Anglo-Fr. provendir, O.Fr. provendier, from Gallo-Romance *provenda, alt. (by influence of L. providere "supply") from L.L. præbenda "allowance, subsistence," from L. præbenda "(things) to be furnished," neut. pl. gerundive of præbere "to furnish, offer," from præ- "before" + habere "to hold" (see habit). Meaning "food, provisions, etc." (esp. dry food for horses) is recorded from 1340.
habeas corpus: 1465, from L., lit. "(you should) have the person," in phrase habeas corpus ad subjiciendum "produce or have the person to be subjected to (examination)," opening words of writs in 14c. Anglo-Fr. documents to require a person to be brought before a court or judge, especially to determine if that person is being legally detained. From habeas, second pers. sing. pres. subjunctive of habere "to have, to hold" (see habit) + corpus "person," lit. "body" (see corporeal).
inhabit: late 14c., from O.Fr. enhabiter "dwell in" (12c.), from L. inhabitare, from in- "in" + habitare "to dwell," frequentative of habere "hold, have" (see habit). Inhabitant first recorded mid-15c. Inhabitable was used in two opposite senses: "not habitable" (c.1400, from in- "not" + habitable) and "capable of being inhabited" (c.1600, from inhabit + -able).
fight (v.): O.E. feohtan "to fight" (class III strong verb; past tense feaht, pp. fohten), from P.Gmc. *fekhtanan (cf. O.H.G. fehtan, Du. vechten, O.Fris. fiuhta), from PIE *pek- "to pluck out" (wool or hair), apparently with a notion of "pulling roughly." Spelling substitution of -gh- for a "hard H" sound was a M.E. scribal habit, especially before -t-. In some late O.E. examples, the middle consonant was represented by a yogh. The noun is from O.E. feohte, gefeoht. First use of fighter for "fast military airplane used for combat" is from 1917.
wean: O.E. wenian "to accustom," from P.Gmc. *wanjanan (cf. O.N. venja, Du. wennen, O.H.G. giwennan, Ger. gewöhnen "to accustom"), from *wanaz "accustomed" (related to wont). The sense of weaning a child from the breast in O.E. was generally expressed by gewenian or awenian, which has a sense of "unaccustom" (cf. Ger. abgewöhnen, entwöhnen "to wean," lit. "to unaccustom"). The prefix subsequently wore off. Figurative extension to any pursuit or habit is from 1526.
redemption: c.1340, "deliverance from sin," from L. redemptionem (nom. redemptio) "a buying back, releasing, ransoming," from redemptus, pp. of redimere "to redeem, buy back," from re- "back" + emere "to take, buy, gain, procure" (see exempt). The -d- is from the Old L. habit of using red- as the form of re- before vowels, and this is practically the sole Eng. word in which it survives. Redemptorist is from Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (founded Naples, 1732, by St. Alphonsus Liguori). In the Mercian hymns, L. redemptionem is glossed by O.E. alesnisse.
pie (1): "pastry," c.1300, from M.L. pie "meat or fish enclosed in pastry," perhaps related to M.L. pia "pie, pastry," also possibly connected with pica "magpie" (see pie (2)) on notion of the bird's habit of collecting miscellaneous objects. Not known outside Eng., except Gaelic pighe, which is from Eng. In the Middle Ages, a pie had many ingredients, a pastry but one. Fruit pies began to appear c.1600. Fig. sense of "something easy" is from 1889. Pie-eyed "drunk" is from 1904. Phrase pie in the sky is 1911, from Joe Hill's Wobbly parody of hymns. Pieman is not attested earlier than the nursery rhyme "Simple Simon" (c.1820).
thrift: c.1300, "fact or condition of thriving," also "prosperity, savings," from M.E. thriven "to thrive" (see thrive), possibly infl. by O.N. þrift, variant of þrif "prosperity," from þrifask "to thrive." Sense of "habit of saving, economy" first recorded 1550s (thrifty in this sense is recorded from 1520s; also see spendthrift). Thrift shop first attested 1947.