etymology.today

An image depicting a 17th-century Caribbean pirate ship, with rugged sails and a wooden deck bustling with pirates clad in traditional buccaneer attire. The background features a lush, tropical island coastline, illustrating the historical setting of flibustiers. The scene captures the adventurous and rebellious spirit associated with these sea raiders.

08.10.2025
Flibustier ("flibustier")
French
"A pirate or buccaneer, specifically one operating in the Caribbean during the 17th century."

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A mysterious and ancient cave entrance surrounded by lush greenery, with sunlight filtering through the leaves, casting patterns on the cave's mouth. The entrance is partly obscured by vines and moss, hinting at the untouched and enigmatic nature of the location, symbolizing both refuge and mystery.

07.10.2025
كَهْف ("kahf")
Arabic
"Cave"

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An image depicting a cheerful quokka sitting on a lush green grass patch with a faint smile, surrounded by the vibrant flora of its native Australian habitat. The background shows the coastline of Rottnest Island, illustrating its historical discovery and modern tourist appeal.

06.10.2025
quokka ("quokka")
English
"A small herbivorous marsupial native to Australia, known for its friendly appearance."

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Imagine a vibrant festival scene in the heart of China, with the night sky illuminated by a myriad of colorful lanterns. Each lantern, intricately designed with traditional patterns and symbols, floats gracefully, creating a sea of shimmering lights. The warm glow of the lanterns reflects on the faces of joyful onlookers, capturing the essence of celebration and cultural heritage.

05.10.2025
灯笼 ("dēnglóng")
Chinese
"A lantern, often used in festivals and celebrations."

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An image depicting a person standing hesitantly at the entrance of a grand, unfamiliar building. The building's architecture is imposing and intricate, symbolizing the threshold. The person's posture conveys a mix of curiosity and apprehension, capturing the essence of 'schwellenangst'. Around them, shadows and light play on the building's surface, illustrating the transition from the known to the unknown.

04.10.2025
schwellenangst ("schwellenangst")
German
"The fear or anxiety experienced when approaching something new or unfamiliar, such as a new place or situation."

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Imagine a serene evening in a traditional Greek village. The sun has just set, casting an orange glow over white-washed buildings. Villagers are exchanging 'καληνύχτα' as they close their shutters and the sound of the sea gently lapping against the shore fills the air. This image captures the essence of a peaceful Greek night, where 'καληνύχτα' is more than a word—it's a comforting ritual.

03.10.2025
καληνύχτα ("kalinychta")
Greek
"A common way to say 'goodnight' in Greek, used as a farewell in the evening or before going to sleep."

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Imagine a sunlit citrus grove with clusters of grapefruit hanging from the trees, their bright yellow and pink hues glistening in the morning light. The air is filled with a zesty, invigorating aroma, and you can almost taste the tartness of the fruit. This image captures the essence of grapefruit's unique growth pattern and its journey from a 'forbidden fruit' to a breakfast staple.

02.10.2025
grapefruit ("")
English
"A large, round citrus fruit with a slightly bitter taste, typically having a yellow or pink flesh."

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An image of a vibrant, sun-drenched tomato field in Israel, with ripe red tomatoes hanging from lush green vines. In the background, a farmer in traditional attire is seen picking tomatoes, symbolizing the agricultural heritage and cultural significance of the fruit in Hebrew language and cuisine.

01.10.2025
עגבניה ("agvaniyah")
Hebrew
"A tomato, a commonly used fruit in cooking and salads."

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A picturesque view of an ancient quarantine station perched on a small island, surrounded by a vast expanse of calm, blue sea. The station is a stone structure with a red-tiled roof, nestled among lush greenery. Sailboats dot the horizon, emphasizing the station's historical role in maritime health. The scene is lit by the golden hues of a setting sun, adding a sense of peace and nostalgia.

30.09.2025
lazaretto ("lazaretto")
Italian
"A quarantine station for maritime travelers."

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An ancient Vedic scene where sages are performing rituals at sunrise, with the sun (सूर्य) depicted as a grand, golden chariot in the sky, casting light over a serene river and lush greenery, symbolizing the life-giving and divine nature of the sun.

29.09.2025
सूर्य ("sūrya")
Sanskrit
"The sun, often personified as a deity in Hindu mythology."

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Imagine a rustic Dutch brewery nestled amid sprawling green fields, with traditional windmills dotting the horizon. The scene captures the blend of old-world charm and modern brewing techniques, with barrels stacked high and the scent of malt and hops wafting through the air.

28.09.2025
brouwerij ("brouwerij")
Dutch
"A place where beer is brewed; a brewery."

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Imagine a vibrant bowl of bibimbap: a medley of colorful vegetables, perfectly cooked beef, and a sunny-side-up egg, all atop a bed of steaming white rice. The dish is completed with a generous dollop of spicy red gochujang sauce, ready to be mixed together. The image captures the essence of Korean harmony in diversity, as each element retains its color and flavor but blends into a cohesive, delightful meal.

27.09.2025
비빔밥 ("bibimbap")
Korean
"A traditional Korean dish consisting of rice mixed with various vegetables, meat, and a spicy sauce."

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An ancient Roman scene with a tintinnabulum hanging in a breezy courtyard, sunlight filtering through the open spaces, casting intricate shadows on the stone floor. The scene captures the gentle movement of the bells as they tinkle softly in the breeze, evoking a sense of history and calm.

26.09.2025
tintinnabulum ("tintinnabulum")
Latin
"A bell or a set of bells."

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An ancient library filled with scrolls and books, bathed in the warm light of an ornate lantern. A scholar sits at a wooden desk, surrounded by texts, deep in contemplation. The walls are adorned with intricate calligraphy, each stroke echoing the essence of wisdom.

25.09.2025
حِكْمَة ("ḥikmah")
Arabic
"Wisdom or the quality of having good judgment."

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Imagine a lively street scene where a person, characterized as a 'flibbertigibbet', is animatedly talking to a small crowd. The person is depicted with exaggerated gestures and a wide smile, embodying the whimsical and flighty nature of the word. The background shows a bustling medieval market, capturing the historical roots of the term.

24.09.2025
flibbertigibbet ("flibbertigibbet")
English
"A frivolous or flighty person."

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A vivid depiction of an ancient Indian astronomer with a circular astrolabe under a starry night sky, surrounded by scrolls and diagrams of celestial spheres, capturing the historical essence and the etymology of 'khagol'.

23.09.2025
खगोल ("khagol")
Sanskrit
"The term 'khagol' refers to astronomy, the scientific study of celestial objects, space, and the universe as a whole."

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An image of a vibrant, juicy grapefruit sliced in half, sitting on a wooden table with a small knife beside it. The background shows a rustic kitchen with a window, through which sunlight pours in, illuminating the fruit's rich pink flesh and the citrusy zest. In the corner, a small globe hints at the fruit's journey from Asia to Europe.

22.09.2025
pamplemousse ("pamplemousse")
French
"A grapefruit, a large citrus fruit with a sour to semi-sweet taste."

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A serene oasis in the desert, where a crystal-clear spring ('ʿayn') bubbles up amidst palm trees and golden sands, reflecting the vibrant greens and blues of the surrounding flora and sky. The scene captures the essence of life-giving water in an arid landscape, symbolizing clarity and vitality.

21.09.2025
عَيْن ("ʿayn")
Arabic
"A spring or a source of water; also used to refer to the eye."

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An image of an elaborate but purposeless construction project, with workers appearing idle, surrounded by a lush, mountainous landscape to symbolize the term's etymological link to 'bundok'.

20.09.2025
boondoggle ("boondoggle")
English
"An unnecessary or wasteful project or activity, often involving graft or corruption."

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A vibrant scene in an ancient Indian forest with monkeys swinging energetically between trees, their playful antics capturing the essence of the word 'कपि'. In the background, the subtle outline of a temple dedicated to Hanuman, symbolizing the cultural significance of monkeys in Indian mythology.

19.09.2025
कपि ("kapi")
Sanskrit
"Monkey"

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A vivid field of coquelicots, their brilliant red petals swaying gently in the breeze under a clear blue sky. The scene is reminiscent of a painting, capturing the contrast between the vivid red flowers and the lush green grass, with a few butterflies fluttering about. The image symbolizes both the tranquility of nature and the historical weight of remembrance associated with these flowers.

18.09.2025
coquelicot ("coquelicot")
French
"A wild poppy with bright red flowers, often found in fields."

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Imagine an intricate Persian workshop from centuries ago, with artisans crafting tools with precision. The image would depict a variety of traditional Persian tools, each with unique designs and purposes, representing the historical and cultural significance of 'ابزار' in Persian society.

17.09.2025
ابزار ("abzār")
Persian
"A tool or instrument used for a specific purpose."

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A dramatic painting depicting a scene with deep shadows and bright highlights, showcasing the chiaroscuro technique. The artwork is a Renaissance piece, with a central figure illuminated by a single light source, emphasizing their expression and form. Surrounding elements fade into darkness, creating a sense of mystery and focus.

16.09.2025
chiaroscuro ("chiaroscuro")
Italian
"A technique in art that uses strong contrasts between light and dark to achieve a sense of volume and three-dimensionality."

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An illustration of a bustling Middle Eastern marketplace with vibrant stalls overflowing with ripe apricots, their golden hues shining under the sun. In the background, traders are seen conversing animatedly, while a gentle breeze carries the sweet aroma of the fruit through the air. The scene captures the rich cultural tapestry and historical significance of the apricot in the region.

15.09.2025
مِشمِش ("mishmish")
Arabic
"Apricot, a small, soft, and sweet fruit with a stone inside."

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An illustration of a mother singing a lullaby to her baby under a night sky filled with stars, evoking a sense of warmth and tranquility. In the background, musical notes float gently in the air, symbolizing the universal and timeless nature of lullabies.

14.09.2025
lullaby ("lullaby")
English
"A soothing song or piece of music, typically played or sung to children to lull them to sleep."

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Imagine a whimsical scene where a charming person is playfully swept up by a gust of wind, leaving a trail of fluttering hearts and love letters behind them, symbolizing their flirtatious nature.

13.09.2025
바람둥이 ("baramdungi")
Korean
"A person who is flirtatious or has a tendency to be unfaithful in relationships."

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A vibrant illustration depicting a charming man in traditional Bavarian attire, complete with lederhosen and a feathered hat, playfully chasing after women in a lively beer garden. The scene captures the essence of the word 'Schürzenjäger', blending humor with cultural elements from 19th-century German society.

12.09.2025
Schürzenjäger ("schuerzenjaeger")
German
"A man who is a habitual pursuer of women; a womanizer."

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Imagine a lush green field under a blue sky, filled with rows of potato plants. In the foreground, a farmer wearing traditional Korean attire harvests the potatoes, placing them into a woven basket. Nearby, a group of children play with the freshly dug tubers, their faces lit with joy. This scene captures both the historical introduction and the modern significance of potatoes in Korean culture.

11.09.2025
감자 ("gamja")
Korean
"Potato - a starchy tuber vegetable commonly used as a staple food worldwide."

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An image of a large, bubbling cauldron filled with a colorful assortment of vegetables, meats, and spices, symbolizing the original culinary use of 'hodgepodge'. Surrounding the cauldron are various items from different cultures and time periods, illustrating the word's evolution from a specific stew to a metaphor for any chaotic mixture.

10.09.2025
hodgepodge ("hodgepodge")
English
"A confused mixture or jumble."

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An image of a serene sunrise with golden rays piercing through a misty landscape, symbolizing the concept of 'किराना' as a ray of light. In the foreground, an ancient Sanskrit manuscript is partially visible, with the script highlighting the word 'किराना'. In the background, a small traditional Indian shop bustling with activity, subtly connecting the ancient meaning with its modern adaptation.

09.09.2025
किराना ("kirana")
Sanskrit
"A ray of light or beam."

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