Online Etymology Dictionary

popular: 1490, "public," from L. popularis "belonging to the people," from populus "people." Meaning "well-liked, admired by the people" is attested from 1608. Popularity "fact or condition of being beloved by the people" is first recorded 1601; popularity contest is from 1941. Popular Front "coalition of Communists, Socialists, and radicals" is from 1936. Popularize "to make a complex topic intelligible to the people" is from 1833.
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]
ace: c.1300, from O.Fr. as "one at dice," from L. as (gen. assis) "a unit," from the name of a small Roman coin, perhaps originally Etruscan and related to Gk. eis "one." It meant the side of the die with only one mark before it meant the playing card. Since this was the lowest roll at dice, ace was used metaphorically in M.E. for "bad luck;" but as the ace is often the highest playing card, the extended senses based on "excellence, good quality" arose 18c. as card-playing became popular. Meaning "outstanding pilot" dates from 1917 (technically, in WWI aviators' jargon, one who has brought down 10 enemy planes, though originally in ref. to 5 shot down), from Fr. l'ace (1915), which, according to Bruce Robertson (ed.) "Air Aces of the 1914-1918 War" was used in prewar Fr. sporting publications for "top of the deck" boxers, cyclists, etc. Sports meaning of "point scored" (1819) led to that of "unreturnable serve" (1889). The verb meaning "to score" (in sports) is first attested 1923, and led to the extended student slang sense of "get high marks" (1959). Ace in the hole "concealed advantage" is attested from 1915.
baby: late 14c., babi, dim. of baban (see babe). The verb meaning "to treat like a baby" is from 1742. As a term of endearment for one's lover it is attested perhaps as early as 1839, certainly by 1901; its popularity perhaps boosted by baby vamp "a popular girl," student slang from c.1922. Baby blues for "blue eyes" recorded by 1944 (the phrase also was used for "postpartum depression" 1950s-60s). To empty the baby out with the bath (water) is first recorded 1909 in G.B. Shaw (cf. Ger. das Kind mit dem Bade ausschütten).
awol: military acronym for absent without leave. The -o- seems to be there mostly so the acronym can be pronounced as a word. In U.S. military use at least from World War II, popular use by 1960.
Baedeker: "travel guide," 1863, from Ger. printer and bookseller Karl Baedeker (1801-1859) whose popular travel guides began the custom of rating places with one to four stars. The Baedeker raids by the Luftwaffe in April and May 1942 targeted British cultural and historical sites.
Baldwin: masc. proper name, from O.Fr. Baldoin (Fr. Baudouin), from a Gmc. source, cf. O.H.G. Baldawin, lit. "bold friend," from bald "bold" (see bold) + wini "friend" (see win). A popular Flemish name, common in England before and after the Conquest.
cracker-jack: also crackerjack, "something excellent," 1895, U.S. colloquialism, apparently a fanciful construction. The caramel-coated popcorn-and-peanuts confection was said to have been introduced at the World's Columbian Exposition (1893). Supposedly a salesman gave it the name when he tasted some and said, "That's a cracker-jack," using the then-popular expression. The name was trademarked 1896. The "Prize in Every Box" was introduced 1912.
croon: c.1400, originally Scottish, from M.Du. kronen "to lament, mourn," perhaps onomatopoeic. Originally "to bellow like a bull" as well as "to utter a low, murmuring sound" (c.1460). Popularized by Robert Burns. Sense evolved to "lament," then to "sing softly and sadly." Crooner, as a type of popular singer, is from 1930.
croquet: 1858, from Northern Fr. dialect croquet "hockey stick," from O.N.Fr. "shepherd's crook," from O.Fr. croc, from O.N. krokr "hook." Game originated in Brittany, popularized in Ireland c.1830, England c.1850, where it was very popular until 1872.
cum: (v. and n.) seems to be a modern (by 1973) variant of the sexual sense of come that originated in pornographic writing, perhaps first in the noun sense. This "experience sexual orgasm" slang meaning of come (perhaps originally come off) is attested from 1650, in "Walking In A Meadowe Greene," in a folio of "loose songs" collected by Bishop Percy.
They lay soe close together, they made me much to wonder;
I knew not which was wether, until I saw her under.
Then off he came, and blusht for shame soe soon that he had endit;
Yet still she lies, and to him cryes, "one more and none can mend it."
As a noun meaning "semen or other product of orgasm" it is on record from the 1920s. The sexual cum seems to have no connection with L. cum, the preposition meaning "with, together with," which is occasionally used in English in local names of combined parishes or benifices (e.g. Chorlton-cum-Hardy), in popular Latin phrases (e.g. cum laude), or as a combining word to indicate a dual nature or function (e.g. slumber party-cum-bloodbath).
cynic: mid-16c., from Gk. kynikos, lit. "dog-like," from kyon (gen. kynos) "dog." Supposedly from the sneering sarcasm of the philosophers, but more likely from Kynosarge "Grey Dog," name of the gymnasium in ancient Athens where the founder, Antisthenes (a pupil of Socrates), taught. Diogenes was the most famous. Popular association even in ancient times was "dog-like." For nuances of usage of cynicism, see humor.
canasta: 1948, Uruguayan card game played with two decks and four jokers, popular c.1945-1965; from Sp., lit. "basket" (see cannister); perhaps in reference to the "packs" of cards used.
Capri pants: 1956 (said to have been designed c.1948), from Capri, It. island; so called perhaps because they were first popular in Capri, which was emerging as a European tourist destination about this time (cf. Bermuda shorts).
Dalmatian: 1810, spotted dog, presumably named for Dalmatia, the reach of modern Croatia along the Adriatic coast, but dog breeders argue over whether there is a Croatian ancestry for the breed, which seems to be represented in Egyptian bas-reliefs and Hellenic friezes. Popular in early 1800s as a carriage dog, to trot alongside carriages and guard them in owner's absence. Even fire departments nowadays tend to spell it *Dalmation.
dandy (n.): c.1780, of uncertain origin, first appeared in a Scottish border ballad:
I've heard my granny crack
O' sixty twa years back
When there were sic a stock of Dandies O
etc. In that region, Dandy is dim. of Andrew. In vogue in London c.1813-19. His fem. counterpart was a dandizette (1821) with Fr.-type ending. The adjective dandy first recorded 1792; very popular c.1880-1900.
decoy: 1618, most likely from Du. kooi "cage," used of a pond surrounded by nets, into which wildfowl were lured for capture, from W.Gmc. *kaiwa, from L. cavea, "cage." The first element is possibly the Du. definite article de, mistaken in Eng. as part of the word. But decoy, of unknown origin, was the name of a card game popular c.1550-1650, and this may have influenced the form of the word.
Edward: masc. proper name, from O.E. Ead-weard, lit. "prosperity-guard." Edwardian is attested from 1861 in ref. to the medieval Eng. kings of that name; 1908 in the sense of "of the time or reign of Edward VII" (1901-10), and, since 1934, especially with reference to the men's clothing styles (cf. teddy-boy, 1954). Among the 10 most popular names for boys born in the U.S. every year from 1895 to 1930.
fandango: c.1750, lively Sp. dance, of unknown origin [OED says "alleged to be of negro origin"], perhaps related to fado (attested in Eng. from 1902), a popular music style of Portugal, from L. fatum "fate, destiny." Fado is lovely, but not lively, so perhaps the link, if any, is thematic. But the late date argues against it.
fashion (n.): c.1300, "shape, manner, mode," from O.Fr. façon, from L. factionem (nom. factio) "group of people acting together," lit. "a making or doing," from facere "to make" (see factitious). Sense of "prevailing custom" is from c.1489; that of "style of attire" is from 1529. The verb is first recorded 1413. Fashionable in the sense of "stylish" is from 1608.
"To call a fashion wearable is the kiss of death. No new fashion worth its salt is wearable." [Eugenia Sheppard, "New York Herald Tribune," Jan. 13, 1960]
Fashion plate (1851) originally was "full-page picture in a popular magazine showing the prevailing or latest style of dress," in ref. to the "plate" from which it was printed. Transf. sense of "well-dressed person" had emerged by 1920s.
Fauntleroy: in various usages, from the hero of Frances Hodgson Burnett's popular novel "Little Lord Fauntleroy" (1885).
fedora: 1895, Amer.Eng. (in a Montgomery Ward catalogue), from "Fédora," a popular play by Victorien Sardou (1831-1908) that opened 1882, in which the heroine, a Rus. princess named Fédora Romanoff, was originally performed by Sarah Bernhardt. During the play, Bernhardt, a notorious cross-dresser, wore a center-creased, soft brimmed hat. Women’s-rights activists adopted the fashion. Men began to wear them with city clothes after 1924, led by Britain's Prince Edward (Edward VIII), the most influential man of fashion in his day. The fem. proper name is Rus. fem. of Fedor, from Gk. Theodoros, lit. "gift of god," from theos "god" + doron "gift."
geek: "sideshow freak," 1916, U.S. carnival and circus slang, perhaps a variant of geck "a fool, dupe, simpleton" (1515), apparently from Low Ger. geck, from an imitative verb found in North Sea Gmc. and Scand. meaning "to croak, cackle," and also "to mock, cheat." The modern form and the popular use with ref. to circus sideshow "wild men" is from 1946, in William Lindsay Gresham's novel "Nightmare Alley" (made into a film in 1947 starring Tyrone Power).
ham (2): "overacting performer," 1882 Amer.Eng., apparently a shortening of hamfatter (1880) "actor of low grade," said to be from an old minstrel show song, "The Ham-fat Man" (1863). The song itself, a black-face number, has nothing to do with acting, so the connection must be with the quality of acting in minstrel shows, where the song was popular. The notion of "amateurish" led to the sense of "amateur radio operator" (1919). The verb in the performance sense is first recorded 1933.
Jacob: masc. proper name, name of O.T. patriarch, son of Isaac and Rebecca and father of the founders of the twelve tribes, from L.L. Jacobus, from Gk. Iakobos, from Heb. Ya'aqobh, lit. "one that takes by the heel" (Gen. xxviii.12), a derivative of 'aqebh "heel." Most popular name form boys born in the U.S. from 1999 through 2008.
jelly: 1381, from O.Fr. gelée "a frost, jelly," lit. fem. pp. of geler "congeal," from L. gelare "to freeze," from gelu "frost." Jellyfish as the popular name of the medusa and similar sea-creatures is from 1841. Jellybean first attested 1908. Jellyroll "cylindrical cake containing jelly or jam" is from 1895; as slang for "vagina, sexual intercourse" it dates from 1914 ("St. Louis Blues").
Jennifer: from Welsh Gwenhwyvar (fem.), from gwen "fair, white" + (g)wyf "smooth, yielding." Most popular name for girls born in America 1970-1984; all but unknown there before 1938.
jerk (v.): 1550, "to lash, strike as with a whip," of uncertain origin, perhaps echoic. Noun sense of "sudden sharp pull or twist" first recorded 1575. Meaning "involuntary spasmodic movement of limbs or features" first recorded 1805. As the name of a popular dance, it is attested from 1966. Sense in soda jerk attested from 1883, from the pulling motion required to work the taps.
jerry-built: 1869, Eng. dial. jerry "bad, defective," a pejorative use of the male nickname Jerry (a popular form of Jeremy), or from naut. slang jury "temporary," which came to be used of all sorts of makeshift and inferior objects (see jury (adj.)).
Jessica: fem. proper name, from L.L. Jesca, from Gk. Ieskha, from Heb. Yiskah, name of a daughter of Haran [Gen. xi.29]. Among the top 5 popular names for girls born in the U.S. every year between 1977 and 1997.
jilt (v.): "to deceive after holding out hopes," 1673, from jilt (n.) "loose, unchaste woman; harlot" (1672), perhaps ult. from M.E. gille "lass, wench," a familiar or contemptuous term for a woman or girl (c.1460), originally a shortened form of woman's name Gillian, popular form of Juliana.
Jim Crow: "black person," 1838, Amer.Eng., originally the name of a black minstrel character in a popular song-and-dance act, from a T.D. Rice song that appeared 1828. Even before that, crow had been a derogatory term for a black man. Association with segregation dates from 1842, in ref. to a railroad car for blacks. Modern use as a type of racial discrimination is from 1943.
kabuki: 1899, from Japanese, popular theater (as opposed to shadow puppet-plays or lyrical Noh dramas), lit. "art of song and dance," from ka "song" + bu "dance" + ki "art." Alternative etymology (in Webster's) is from nominal form of kabuku "to be divergent, to deviate," from early opinion of this form of drama. Since c.1650, all parts are played by males.
keen (adj.): O.E. cene "bold brave," later "clever, wise," from P.Gmc. *kan- "be able to" (see can). Original prehistoric senses seem to have been both "brave" and "skilled;" cf. O.N. kænn "skillful, wise," M.Du. coene "bold," O.H.G. kuon "pugnacious, strong," Ger. Kühn "bold, daring." Sense of "eager" is from mid-14c. The meaning "sharp" is peculiar to Eng.: of blades and edges early 13c., of sounds c.1400, of eyesight c.1720. A popular word of approval in teenager and student slang from c.1900.
kir: "white wine and crème de cassis," 1966 (popular in U.S. 1980s), from Canon Felix Kir (1876-1968), mayor of Dijon, who is said to have invented the recipe.
knickerbocker: "descendant of Du. settler of New York," 1831, from Diedrich Knickerbocker, the name under which Washington Irving published his popular "History of New York" (1809). The pen-name was borrowed from Irving's friend Herman Knickerbocker, and lit. means "toy marble-baker."
lampoon (n.): 1645, from Fr. lampon, of unknown origin, said by Fr. etymologists to be from lampons "let us drink," popular refrain for scurrilous 17c. songs, from lamper "to drink, guzzle," a nasalized form of laper "to lap." The verb is first attested 1657.
Lateran: c.1300, popular name of cathedral church of St. John Lateran at Rome, which is built on the site of the palace of the Plautii Laterani, a Roman family. As a papal headquarters, it was the site of five general councils of the Western Church.
Magnus: Scand. name, popular with early kings, the first to use it was Magnus I, king of Norway and Denmark (d. 1047), who evidently took it in emulation of Charlemagne (L. Carolus Magnus) under the impression that magnus (L. "great") was a personal name.
maharishi: Hindu sage or holy man, 1785, from Skt., from maha "great" (see maharajah) + rishi "inspired sage." In general use, a title for a popular spiritual leader.
mainstream: "principal current of a river," 1667, from main (adj.) + stream, hence, "prevailing direction in opinion, popular taste, etc.," a fig. use first attested in Carlyle (1831).
Nancy: fem. proper name, probably a pet form of Ancy, dim. of M.E. Annis "Agnes." Among the top 10 popular names for girls born in U.S. between 1935 and 1955.
nasturtium: c.1150, "plant like watercress," from L. nasturtium "cress;" the popular etymology explanation of the name (Pliny) is that it is from L. *nasitortium, lit. "nose-twist," from nasus "nose" + pp. of torquere "to twist" (see thwart); the plant so called for its pungent odor. Modern application to S.Amer. trailing plant with orange flowers first recorded 1704.
Nazi: 1930, from Ger. Nazi, abbreviation of Ger. pronunciation of Nationalsozialist (based on earlier Ger. sozi, popular abbreviaton of "socialist"), from Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei "National Socialist German Workers' Party," led by Hitler from 1920. The 24th edition of Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache (2002) says the word Nazi was favored in southern Germany (supposedly from c.1924) among opponents of National Socialism because the nickname Nazi (from the masc. proper name Ignatz, Ger. form of Ignatius) was used colloquially to mean "a foolish person, clumsy or awkward person." Ignatz was a popular name in Catholic Austria, and according to one source in WWI Nazi was a generic name in the German Empire for the soldiers of Austria-Hungary. An older use of Nazi for national-sozial is attested in Ger. from 1903, but EWdS does not think it contributed to the word as applied to Hitler and his followers. The NSDAP for a time attempted to adopt the Nazi designation as what the Germans call a "despite-word," but they gave this up, and the NSDAP is said to have generally avoided the term. Before 1930, party members had been called in Eng. National Socialists, which dates from 1923. The use of Nazi Germany, Nazi regime, etc., was popularized by German exiles abroad. From them, it spread into other languages, and eventually brought back to Germany, after the war. In the USSR, the terms national socialist and Nazi were said to have been forbidden after 1932, presumably to avoid any taint to the good word socialist. Soviet literature refers to fascists.
Nehru: in ref. to a type of long, narrow jacket with a standing collar (popular in Western fashion, late 1960s), 1967, in ref. to Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964), first prime minister of independent India (1947-1969), who often wore such a jacket in public appearances.
octave: c.1300, vtaues (pl., from popular O.Fr. form otaves), later reformed, from M.L. octava, from L. octava dies "eighth day," fem. of octavus "eighth," from octo (see eight). Originally "period of eight days after a festival," also "eighth day after a festival" (counting both days, thus if the festival was on a Sunday, the octaves would be the following Sunday). Verse sense of "stanza of eight lines" is from c.1586; musical sense of "note eight diatonic degrees above (or below) a given note" is first recorded 1656, from L. octava (pars) "eighth part."
prohibition: 1387, from O.Fr. prohibition (1237), from L. prohibitionem (nom. prohibitio) "a hindering, forbidding," from prohibitus, pp. of prohibere "hold back," from pro- "away, forth" + habere "to hold" (see habit). Meaning "forced alcohol abstinence" is 1851, Amer.Eng.; in effect in U.S. as law 1920-1933 under the Volstead Act.
"People whose youth did not coincide with the twenties never had our reverence for strong drink. Older men knew liquor before it became the symbol of a sacred cause. Kids who began drinking after 1933 take it as a matter of course. ... Drinking, we proved to ourselves our freedom as individuals and flouted Congress. We conformed to a popular type of dissent -- dissent from a minority. It was the only period during which a fellow could be smug and slopped concurrently." [A.J. Liebling, "Between Meals," 1959]
Prohibit (v.) is first recorded 1432. Prohibitive "having the quality of prohibiting" is recorded from 1602; of prices, rates, etc., "so high as to prevent use," it is from 1886.
pup: 1773, "a young dog," shortened form of puppy (q.v.). Used from 1589 for "conceited person." Applied to the young of the fur seal from 1815. Pup tent (also dog tent) is from 1863. Sopwith pup, popular name of the Sopwith Scout Tractor airplane, is from 1917.
pamphlet: "small, unbound treatise," late 14c., from Anglo-Latin panfletus, popular short form of "Pamphilus, seu de Amore" ("Pamphilus, or about Love"), a short L. love poem of 12c., popular and widely copied in Middle Ages; the name from Gk. pamphilos "loved by all," from pan- "all" + philos "loving, dear." Meaning "brief work dealing with questions of current interest" is late 16c. Pamphleteer (n.) is first recorded 1640s.
pantaloons: 1661, "kind of tights" (originally a Fr. fashion and execrated as such by late 17c. Eng. writers), associated with Pantaloun (1590), silly old man character in It. comedy who wore tight trousers over his skinny legs, from It. Pantalone, originally San Pantaleone, Christian martyr, a popular saint in Venice (Pantaleone in the comedies represents the Venetian). The name is of Gk. origin and means "all-compassionate." Applied to tight long trousers (replacing knee-breeches) by 1798; pants is a shortened form first recorded 1840.