What an entry gives you first
Every new WikiEtymology entry opens with what the word means today and, in one or two sentences, where it comes from and when it entered English. The story, the change of meaning over time, the myths and the related words follow.
How entries are researched
Each entry starts with a fact sheet built from the standard references: the Oxford English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, the Online Etymology Dictionary, the Middle English Dictionary and, for slang, Green's Dictionary of Slang. Every fact on the sheet is labelled as confirmed, likely, disputed or not found. Facts that cannot be found in a reliable source are left out of the entry.
How AI is used
We use Google's Gemini model to gather the fact sheet with web search and to draft the entry from that sheet only. The draft is not allowed to add dates, people, quotations or sources that are not on the sheet. AI drafting saves time; it does not decide what is true.
How entries are checked
An editor checks the original form, the first recorded date and the sources of each entry against the Oxford English Dictionary or the Online Etymology Dictionary. When that check is done, the entry shows a “Checked” badge with the editor's name and the date. Entries without the badge have not yet had that check.
How we show certainty
Each entry states how well its origin is known: established, probable, disputed or unknown. Folk etymologies and acronym stories are marked with a verdict of False, Unproven or True and the evidence behind it.
Corrections
If you find a mistake, tell us. We correct the entry, update its date and keep its address.
Citing an entry
Each entry ends with a citation you can copy. Please link to the entry's own address.