Etymologies: Y

137 word origins.

Y-: [OE. y-, i-, AS. ge-, akin to D. & G. ge-, OHG. gi-, ga-, Goth. ga-, and perhaps to Latin con-; originally meaning, together. Cf. Com-, Aware, Enough, Handiwork, Ywis.]
Yacare: [See Jacare.]
Yacht: [D. jagt, jacht; perhaps properly, a chase, hunting, from. jagen to chase, hunt, akin to G. jagen, OHG. jagōn, of uncertain origin; or perhaps akin to OHG. gāhi quick, sudden (cf. Gay).]
Yaf: [AS. geaf, imp. of giefan to give. See Give]
Yaffingale: [See Yaffle, and cf. Nightingale.]
Yaffle: [Probably imitative of its call or cry.]
Yager: [G. jäger a hunter, from jagen to chase, hunt.]
Yajur-Veda: [Skr. yajur-vēda.]
Yak: [Tibetan gyag.]
Yaksha: [Skr.]
Yam: [Pg. inhame, probably from some native name.]
Yama: [Skr. yama a twin.]
Yamen: [Chin. ya a civil or military court + men a gate.]
Yamma: [See Llama.]
Yang: [Of imitative origin.]
Yank: [Cf. Scot. yank a sudden and severe blow.]
Yankee: [Commonly considered to be a corrupt pronunciation of the word English, or of the French word Anglais, by the native Indians of America. According to Thierry, a corruption of Jankin, a diminutive of John, and a nickname given to the English colonists of Connecticut by the Dutch settlers of New York. Dr. W. Gordon (“Hist. of the Amer. War,” ed, 1789, vol. i., pp. 324, 325) says it was a favorite cant word in Cambridge, Mass., as early as 1713, and that it meant excellent; as, a yankee good horse, yankee good cider, etc. Cf. Scot yankie a sharp, clever, and rather bold woman, and Prov. E. bow-yankees a kind of leggins worn by agricultural laborers.]
Yaourt: [Turk. yoghurt.]
Yap: [Icel. gjālpa; akin to yelp. Cf. Yaup.]
Yapock: [Probably from the river Oyapok, between French Guiana and Brazil.]
Yarage: [See Yare, a.]
Yard: [OE. yerd, AS. gierd, gyrd, a rod, stick, a measure, a yard; akin to OFries. ierde, OS. gerda, D. garde, G. gerte, OHG. gartia, gerta, gart, Icel. gaddr a goad, sting, Goth. gazds, and probably to L. hasta a spear. Cf. Gad, n., Gird, n., Gride, v. i., Hastate.]
Yard: [OE. yard, yerd, AS. geard; akin to OFries. garda garden, OS. gardo garden, gard yard, D. gaard garden, G. garten, OHG. garto garden, gari inclosure, Icel. garðr yard, house, Sw. gård, Dan. gaard, Goth. gards a house, garda sheepfold, L. hortus garden, Gr. co`rtos an inclosure. Cf. Court, Garden, Garth, Horticulture, Orchard.]
yare: [OE. yare, ȝaru, AS. gearu; akin to OS. garu, OHG. garo, G. gar, Icel. gerr perfect, görva quite, G. gerben to tan, to curry, OHG. garawen, garwen, to make ready. Cf. Carouse, Garb clothing, Gear, n.]
Yarn: [OE. yarn, ȝarn, AS. gearn; akin to D. garen, G., OHG., Icel., Sw., & Dan. garn; of uncertain origin. Cf. Cord.]
Yarr: [OE. ȝarren.]
Yarrish: [Prov. E. yar sour, yare brackish.]
Yarrow: [OE. yarowe, yarwe, ȝarowe, AS. gearwe; akin to D. gerw, OHG. garwa, garawa, G. garbe, schafgarbe, and perhaps to E. yare.]
Yarwhip: [So called from its sharp cry uttered when taking wing.]
Yataghan: [Turk. yātāghān.]
Yaup: [See Yap, and Yelp.]
Yautia: [Native name in the Antilles.]
Yaw: [Cf. Yew, v. i.]
Yaw: [Cf. Prov. G. gagen to rock, gageln to totter, shake, Norw. gaga to bend backward, Icel. gagr bent back, gaga to throw the neck back.]
yawd: [Cf. Icel. jalda a mare, E. jade a nag.]
yawl: [D. jol; akin to LG. & Dan. jolle, Sw. julle. Cf. Jolly-boat.]
Yawl: [OE. ȝaulen, ȝoulen, gaulen, goulen, Icel. gaula to low, bellow. Cf. Gowl.]
Yawn: [OE. yanien, ȝanien, ganien, gonien, AS. gānian; akin to ginian to yawn, gīnan to yawn, open wide, G. gähnen to yawn, OHG. ginēn, geinōn, Icel. gīna to yawn, gin the mouth, OSlav. zijati to yawn, L. hiare to gape, yawn; and perhaps to E. begin, cf. Gr. ceia` a hole. √47b. Cf. Begin, Gin to begin, Hiatus.]
Yaws: [African yaw a raspberry.]
Ycleped: [AS. geclipod, p. p. of clipian, cleopian, cliopian, to call. See Clepe, and also the Note under Y-.]
Ye: [OE. ye, ȝe, nom. pl., AS. ge, gī; cf. OS. ge, gī, OFries. gī, ī, D. gij, Dan. & Sw. i, Icel. ēr, OHG. ir, G. ihr, Goth. jus, Lith. jus, Gr. "ymei^s, Skr. yuyam. √189.]
Ye: [See Yea.]
Yea: [OE. ye, ya, ȝe, ȝa, AS. geá; akin to OFries. gē, iē, OS., D., OHG., G., Dan. & Sw. ja, Icel, jā, Goth. ja, jai, and probably to Gr. "h^ truly, verily. √188. Cf. Yes.]
Yean: [AS. eánian, or geeánian; perhaps akin to E. ewe, or perhaps to L. agnus, Gr. . Cf. Ean.]
Yeanling: [Yean + -ling. Cf. Eanling.]
Year: [OE. yer, yeer, ȝer, AS. geár; akin to OFries. ir, gr, D. jaar, OHG. jār, G. jahr, Icel. ār, Dan. aar, Sw. år, Goth. jr, Gr. a season of the year, springtime, a part of the day, an hour, a year, Zend yāre year. √4, 279. Cf. Hour, Yore.]
Yearling: [Year + -ling.]
Yearly: [AS. geárlic.]
Yearly: [AS. geárlice.]
Yearn: [Also earn, ern; probably a corruption of OE. ermen to grieve, AS. ierman, yrman, or geierman, geyrman, fr. earm wretched, poor; akin to D. & G. arm, Icel. armr, Goth. arms. The y- in English is perhaps due to the AS. ge (see Y-).]
Yearn: [See Yearnings.]
Yearn: [OE. yernen, ȝernen, ȝeornen, AS. geornian, gyrnan, fr. georn desirous, eager; akin to OS. gern desirous, girnean, gernean, to desire, D. gaarne gladly, willingly, G. gern, OHG. gerno, adv., gern, a., G. gier greed, OHG. girī greed, ger desirous, gerōn to desire, G. begehren, Icel. girna to desire, gjarn eager, Goth. faíhugaírns covetous, gaírnjan to desire, and perhaps to Gr. cai`rein to rejoice, be glad, Skr. hary to desire, to like. √33.]
Yearnful: [OE. ȝeornful, AS. geornfull.]
Yearnings: [Cf. AS. geirnan, geyrnan, to rum. See 4th Earn.]
Yeast: [OE. ȝeest, ȝest, AS. gist; akin to D. gest, gist, G. gischt, gäscht, OHG. jesan, jerian, to ferment, G. gischen, gäschen, gähren, Gr. boiled, zei^n to boil, Skr. yas. √111.]
Yedding: [AS. geddung, gidding, giedding, from gieddian, giddian, to sing, speak.]
Yeldrin: [Cf. Yellow.]
Yell: [OE. yellen, ȝellen, AS. giellan, gillan, gyllan; akin to D. gillen, OHG. gellan, G. gellen, Icel. gjalla, Sw. gälla to ring, resound, and to AS., OS., & OHG. galan to sing, Icel. gala. Cf. 1st Gale, and Nightingale.]
Yellow: [OE. yelow, yelwe, ȝelow, ȝeoluw, from AS. geolu; akin to D. geel, OS. & OHG. gelo, G. gelb, Icel. gulr, Sw. gul, Dan. guul, L. helvus light bay, Gr. clo`n young verdure, clwro`s greenish yellow, Skr. hari tawny, yellowish. √49. Cf. Chlorine, Gall a bitter liquid, Gold, Yolk.]
Yellow Book: [F. livre jaune.]
Yellowhammer: [For yellow-ammer, where ammer is fr. AS. amore a kind of bird; akin to G. ammer a yellow-hammer, OHG. amero.]
Yelp: [OE. yelpen, ȝelpen, to boast, boast noisily, AS. gielpan, gilpan, gylpan; akin to OHG. gelph arrogant: cf. Icel. gjālpa to yelp. Cf. Yap.]
Yelting: [Orig. uncert.]
Yenite: [After Jena, in Germany.]
Yeoman: [OE. yoman, ȝeman, ȝoman; of uncertain origin; perhaps the first, syllable is akin to OFries. gā district, region, G. gau, OHG. gewi, gouwi, Goth. gawi. √100.]
Yeorling: [Cf. Yellow.]
Yerba: [Sp.]
Yerk: [See Yerk.]
Yern: [OE. ȝern, ȝeorne, AS. georn desirous, eager. See Yearn to long.]
Yerne: [OE. ȝeorne. See Yern, a.]
Yernut: [Cf. Dan. jordnöd, Sw. jordnöt, earthnut. Cf. Jarnut.]
Yes: [OE. yis, ȝis, ȝes, ȝise, AS. gese, gise; probably fr. geá yea + swā so. √188. See Yea, and So.]
Yester: [See Yesterday.]
Yesterday: [OE. ȝisterdai, AS. geostran dæg, from geostran, geostra, giestran, gistran, gystran, yesterday (akin to D. gisteren, G. gestern, OHG. gestaron, Icel. gær yesterday, to-morrow, Goth. gistradagis to-morrow, L. heri yesterday, Gr. , Skr. hyas) + dæg day. Cf. Hestern. .]
Yestern: [See Yester.]
Yesternight: [AS. gystran niht. See Yesterday.]
Yet: [OE. yet, ȝet, ȝit, AS. git, gyt, giet, gieta; akin to OFries. ieta, eta, ita, MHG. iezuo, ieze, now, G. jetzo, jetzt.]
Yew: [OE. ew, AS. eów, īw, eoh; akin to D. ijf, OHG. īwa, īha, G. eibe, Icel. ȳr; cf. Ir. iubhar, Gael. iubhar, iughar, W. yw, ywen, Lith. jëva the black alder tree.]
Yex: [OE. ȝexen, yesken, AS. giscian to sob.]
Yex: [AS. geocsa a sobbing, hiccough. Cf. Yex, v. i.]
Yid: [See Yiddish.]
Yiddish: [G. jüdisch, prop., Jewish, fr. Jude Jew. See Jew, Jewish.]
Yiddisher: [See Yiddish.]
Yield: [OE. yelden, ȝelden, ȝilden, AS. gieldan, gildan, to pay, give, restore, make an offering; akin to OFries. jelda, OS. geldan, D. gelden to cost, to be worth, G. gelten, OHG. geltan to pay, restore, make an offering, be worth, Icel. gjalda to pay, give up, Dan. gielde to be worth, Sw. gälla to be worth, gälda to pay, Goth. gildan in fragildan, usgildan. Cf. 1st Geld, Guild.]
Yllanraton: [From the native name.]
Ymel: [OE. ymel, imelle, of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. ī milli, ī millum (properly, in the middle, fr. in + miil, meal, middle, akin to E. middle), Dan. imellem, Sw. emellan. See In, and Middle.]
Ynough: [See Enough.]
Yockel: [Cf. Yokel.]
Yode: [OE. yode, yede, ȝede, ȝeode, eode, AS. eóde, used as the imp. of gān to go; akin to Goth. iddja I, he, went, L. ire to go, Gr. 'ie`nai, Skr. i, yā. √4. Cf. Issue.]
Yodel: [G. jodeln.]
Yoga: [Skr. yōga union.]
Yogi: [Skr. yōgin.]
Yojan: [Skr. yōjana.]
Yoke: [OE. yok, ȝoc, AS. geoc; akin to D. juk, OHG. joh, G. joch, Icel. & Sw. ok, Dan. aag, Goth. juk, Lith. jungas, Russ. igo, L. jugum, Gr. zy`gon, Skr. yuga, and to L. jungere to join, Gr. , Skr. yui. √109, 280. Cf. Join, Jougs, Joust, Jugular, Subjugate, Syzygy, Yuga, Zeugma.]
Yokefellow: [Yoke + fellow.]
Yokel: [Perhaps from an AS. word akin to E. gawk.]
Yolk: [OE. yolke, yelke, ȝolke, ȝelke, AS. geoloca, geoleca, fr. geolu yellow. See Yellow.]
Yom: [Heb. yōm.]
Yom Kippur: [Heb. yōm kippūr, day of atonement.]
Yon: [OE. yon, ȝon, AS. geon; akin to G. jener, OHG. jenēr, Icel. enn, inn; cf. Goth. jains. √188. Cf. Beyond, Yond, Yonder.]
Yoncopin: [Perhaps corrupted from Illinois micoupena, Chippewa makopin, the American lotus.]
Yond: [Cf. AS. anda, onda, anger, andian to be angry.]
Yond: [OE. yond, ȝond, ȝeond, through, beyond, over, AS. geond, adv. & prep.; cf. Goth. jaind thither. √188. See Yon, a.]
Yonder: [OE. yonder, ȝonder; cf. OD. ginder, Goth. jaindr there. . See Yond, adv.]
Yoni: [Skr. yōni.]
Yonker: [See Younker.]
Yore: [OE. ȝore, yare, ȝare, AS. geára;akin to geár a year, E. year. √204. See Year.]
Yote: [OE. ȝeoten, ȝeten, to pour, AS. geótan. See Found to cast.]
You: [OE. you, eou, eow, dat. & acc., AS. eów, used as dat. & acc. of ge, gē, ye; akin to OFries. iu, io, D. u, G. euch, OHG. iu, dat., iuwih, acc., Icel. yðr, dat. & acc., Goth. izwis; of uncertain origin. √189. Cf. Your.]
Young: [OE. yung, yong, ȝong, ȝung, AS. geong; akin to OFries. iung, iong, D. joing, OS., OHG., & G. jung, Icel. ungr, Sw. & Dan. ung, Goth. juggs, Lith. jaunas, Russ. iunuii, L. juvencus, juvenis, Skr. juvaça, juvan. √281. Cf. Junior, Juniper, Juvenile, Younker, Youth.]
Youngling: [AS. geongling.]
Youngly: [AS. geonglic.]
Younker: [D. jonker, jonkeer; jong young + heer a lord, sir, gentleman. See Young, a.]
Your: [OE. your, ȝour, eowr, eower, AS. eówer, originally used as the gen. of ge, gē, ye; akin to OFries. iuwer your, OS. iuwar, D. uw, OHG. iuwēr, G. euer, Icel. yðar, Goth. izwara, izwar, and E. you. √189. See You.]
Yourself: [Your + self.]
Youth: [OE. youthe, youhþe, ȝuheðe, ȝuweðe, ȝeoȝeðe, AS. geoguð, geogoð; akin to OS. juguð, D. jeugd, OHG. jugund, G. jugend, Goth. junda. √281. See Young.]
Youthhood: [AS. geoguðhād. See Youth, and -hood.]
Youthly: [AS. geoguðlic.]
Youze: [From a native East Indian name.]
Yowe: [See Ewe.]
Yowl: [See Yawl, v. i.]
Yowley: [Cf. Yellow.]
Ypsiliform: [Gr. the name of the letter + -form.]
Ysame: [See Same.]
Ytterbium: [NL., fr. Ytterby, in Sweden. See Erbium.]
Yttria: [NL. See Yttrium.]
Yttrium: [NL., from Ytterby, in Sweden. See Erbium.]
Yu: [Chin.]
Yucca: [NL., from Yuca, its name in St. Domingo.]
Yuck: [Cf. G. jucken, D. yeuken, joken. See Itch.]
Yufts: [Russ. iufte.]
Yug: [Skr. yuga an age, a yoke. See Yoke.]
Yule: [OE. yol, ȝol, AS. geól; akin to geóla December or January, Icel. jōl Yule, Ylir the name of a winter month, Sw. jul Christmas, Dan. juul, Goth. jiuleis November or December. Cf. Jolly.]
Yunx: [NL., fr. Gr. 'i`ygx the wryneck.]
yuppie: [young urban professional + -ie.]
Ywar: [See Aware.]
Ywis: [OE. ywis, iwis, AS. gewis certain; akin to D. gewis, G. gewiss, and E. wit to know. See Wit to know, and Y-.]