mean | Search Online Etymology Dictionary

backstreet (n.)

mid-15c., from back (adj.), here perhaps with a sense "inferior, mean, obscure" + street.

satori (n.)

in Zen Buddhism, "enlightenment," 1727, from Japanese, said to mean literally "spiritual awakening."

Guam

from Chamorro Guahan, said to mean literally "what we have."

bushido (n.)

"feudal samurai warrior code," 1898, from Japanese, said to mean literally "military-knight way."

snivelling (adj.)

"mean-spirited, weak," 1640s, present-participle adjective from snivel (v.). Related: Snivellingly.

anarchistic (adj.)

"advocating the political philosophy of anarchism," 1845, from anarchist + -ic. Differentiated from anarchic, which tends to mean "chaotic, lawless." Related: Anarchistically.

dojo (n.)

"hall in which judo is practiced," 1942, from Japanese, where it has a wider sense and is said to mean "place of the Way."

sordid (adj.)

early 15c., "festering," from Latin sordidus "dirty, filthy, foul, vile, mean, base," from sordere "be dirty, be shabby," related to sordes "dirt, filth," from PIE *swrd-e-, from root *swordo- "black, dirty" (source also of Old English sweart "black"). Sense of "foul, low, mean" first recorded 1610s. Related: Sordidly; sordidness.

budgerigar (n.)

small Australian parrot, 1847, from a native Australian language, said to mean "good cockatoo," from budgeri "good" + gar "cockatoo."

bickering (adj.)

1808 in the sense of "contentious," present-participle adjective from bicker (v.). Earlier it was used to mean "flashing, quivering" (1660s).

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