Etymology dictionary
sot (n.) — spaghetti (n.)
sot (n.)
late Old English sott "stupid person, fool," a sense now obsolete, from Old French sot, from Gallo-Roman *sott- (probably related to Medieval Latin sottus), a word of uncertain origin, with cognates from Portugal to Germany. The surviving English meaning "one who is stupefied with drink, one who commonly drinks to excess" is attested by 1590s. As a verb, it is attested from c. 1200, but this is usually besot.
soteriological (adj.)
"pertaining to the doctrine of spiritual salvation through Jesus Christ," 1843, from German soteriologisch; see soteriology.
soteriology (n.)
1847, "a discourse on health;" 1864 in reference to the branch of theology which treats of salvation, from German soteriologie, from Greek sōtēria "preservation, salvation," from sōizein "save, preserve," related to sōs "safe, healthy," which is of uncertain origin (according to Watkins perhaps from PIE root *teue- "to swell," on the notion of "to be strong"). With -ology.
Sothic (adj.)
"of or pertaining to Sirius," as in Sothic cycle, a period of 1,460 years, 1722, from French Sothique, from Greek Sothis, an Egyptian name of the dog star, Sirius. The Sothic year is determined by the heliacal rising of Sirius. Related: Sothiac; sothiacal (1723).
sottish (adj.)
1560s, "foolish," from the verb sot (for which see sot (n.)) + -ish. From 1630s as "drunken." Related: sottishly; sottishness. Earlier was sotted "rendered foolish" (late 14c.). Middle English also had sotie (n.) "folly, foolishness;" sotship, sothood; sotly (adv.) "foolishly."
sotto voce (adv.)
1737, Italian, literally "under voice," from sotto (prep.) "under," from Latin subtus "below" (source also of French sous; see sub-) + voce, from Latin vocem (nominative vox) "voice, sound, utterance" (from PIE root *wekw- "to speak").
sou (n.)
small French coin, 1550s, back-formation from sous, plural of Old French soul, formerly a coin worth one-twentieth of a livre, from Latin solidus (see solidus).
soubrette (n.)
1753, theatrical jargon word for lady's maid characters in plays and operas, who typically were pert, flirtatious, and intriguing, from French soubrette, said in Klein to be from Provençal soubreto "affected, conceited," fem. of soubret "coy, reserved," from soubra "to set aside," originally "to exceed," from Old Provençal sobrar, from Latin superare "to rise above, overcome," from super "over, above, beyond" (from PIE root *uper "over"). Other sources trace the French word through Old French soubret "sober, thoughtful; sly, cunning," from the Latin word. Compare Abigail.
souffle (n.)
in cookery, a delicate, light dish, sometimes savory but usually sweet, 1813, from French soufflé, noun use of past participle of souffler "to puff up," from Latin sufflare, from sub "under, up from under" (see sub-) + flare "to blow" (according to Watkins from PIE root *bhle- "to blow").
souffre-douleur (n.)
1845, French, literally "suffer sorrow;" one who is in a subservient position and must listen to or share another's troubles, specifically "a woman who acts as a paid companion to an older woman."
sough (v.)
"to make a moaning or murmuring sound," Middle English swouen, from Old English swogan "to sound, roar, howl, rustle, whistle," from Proto-Germanic *swoganan (source also of Old Saxon swogan "to rustle," Gothic gaswogjan "to sigh"), from PIE imitative root *(s)wagh- (compare Greek ēkhō, Latin vagire "to cry, roar, sound"). "From the 16th cent. almost exclusively Sc. & north. dial. until adopted in general literary use in the 19th" [OED]. Related: Soughed; soughing. The noun is late 14c., swough, "a rushing, whispering sound, a murmuring roar," from the verb.
sought
past tense and past participle of seek, from Old English sohte. The adjective sought-after "searched-for, desired" is from 1881 (sought-for in same sense is from c. 1600).
souk (n.)
Arab bazaar, 1826, soug, from French souk, from Arabic suq "marketplace."
soul (n.1)
"A substantial entity believed to be that in each person which lives, feels, thinks, and wills" [Century Dictionary], Middle English soule, from Old English sawol "spiritual and emotional part of a person, animate existence; life, living being," from Proto-Germanic *saiwalō (source also of Old Saxon seola, Old Norse sala, Old Frisian sele, Middle Dutch siele, Dutch ziel, Old High German seula, German Seele, Gothic saiwala), a word of uncertain origin.
It has been suspected to have meant originally "coming from or belonging to the sea," the supposed stopping place of the soul before birth or after death [Barnhart]; if so, it would be from Proto-Germanic *saiwaz (see sea). Klein explains this as "from the lake," as a dwelling-place of souls in ancient northern Europe.
The meaning "disembodied spirit of a deceased person" is attested in Old English. As a synonym for "person, individual, human being" (as in every living soul) it dates from early 14c. Soul-searching (n.) "deep self-reflection, examination of one's conscience" is attested from 1871, from the phrase used as a present-participle adjective (1610s). Distinguishing soul from spirit is a matter best left to theologians.
soulful (adj.)
"full of feeling, expressive of emotion," 1860, from soul (n.1) + -ful. The meaning "expressive of characteristic Black feeling" is by 1964 (see soul (n.2)). Earlier as a noun (1640s), "as much as a soul can hold." Related: Soulfully; soulfulness. Middle English had souli "of or pertaining to souls."
soul (n.2)
1946, "instinctive quality felt by Black Americans as an attribute," jazz slang, from soul (n.1), probably in the sense of "the animating or essential part." From this sense are formations such as soul brother (1957), soul sister (1967), soul food (1957 in this sense, c. 1200 as "spiritual sustenance"), etc. Soul music, originally a type of popular music typically sung by Black singers and combining elements of R&B and gospel, is so called by 1961; William James used the term in 1900, in a spiritual/romantic sense, but in reference to inner music.
soulless (adj.)
Middle English soulelez, from Old English sawolleas "dead, lifeless;" see soul (n.1) + -less. The Middle English word likely is a re-formation. The sense of "having no spirit, expressionless" is by 1550s, of things, "dull, insipid," by 1630s. Similar formation in German Seellos. Related: Soullessness.
soulmate (n.)
1822 (as soul mate), first in Coleridge, from soul (n.1) + mate (n.). One-word form is from early 20c. Middle English had soul-felaue "fellow member of a religious order" (mid-15c.).
sound (n.2)
"narrow channel of water," c. 1300, sounde, from Old Norse sund "a strait, swimming," or from cognate Old English sund "act of swimming; stretch of water one can swim across, a strait of the sea," both from Proto-Germanic *sundam-, from a suffixed form of Germanic *swem- "to move, stir, swim" (see swim (v.)). In Middle English it still could mean "swimming, the ability to swim."
soundness (n.)
late 14c., soundnes, "solidity, firmness," from sound (adj.) + -ness. Of the mind, etc. by 1540s.
sound (v.1)
early 13c., sounen "to be audible, produce vibrations affecting the ear," from Old French soner (Modern French sonner) and directly from Latin sonare "to sound, make a noise" (from PIE root *swen- "to sound"). It is attested from late 14c. as "cause something (an instrument, etc.) to produce sound." Related: Sounded; sounding. A sounding-board originally was "canopy over a pulpit to direct the voice toward the audience" (1766). It also has been used in the "musical instrument sound-board" sense.
sound (n.1)
"noise, what is heard, sensation produced through the ear," late 13c., soun, from Old French son "sound, musical note, voice," from Latin sonus "sound, a noise," from PIE *swon-o-, from root *swen- "to sound."
The unetymological -d was established c. 1350-1550 (see D).
Sound-board, "thin, resonant plate of wood in a musical instrument," is from 15c. Sound-wave "wave in an elastic medium by which sound spreads" is by 1848. Sound barrier, in reference to supersonic flights, is from 1939. Sound check is by 1977; sound effect is by 1909, originally live accompaniment to silent films.
sound (adj.)
"healthy, not diseased, free from special defect or injury," c. 1200, sounde, from Old English gesund "sound, safe, having the organs and faculties complete and in perfect action," from Proto-Germanic *sunda-, from Germanic root *swen-to- "healthy, strong" (source also of Old Saxon gisund, Old Frisian sund, Dutch gezond, Old High German gisunt, German gesund "healthy," as in the post-sneezing interjection gesundheit; also Old English swið "strong," Gothic swinþs "strong," German geschwind "fast, quick"). The German words have connections in Indo-Iranian and Balto-Slavic.
Paired alliteratively with safe (adj.) at least from c. 1300. The meaning "right, correct, free from error, in accord with facts" is from mid-15c. The sense of "holding accepted opinions" is from 1520s. Of arguments, etc., "without logical flaw," 1570s. The meaning "financially solid or safe" is attested from c. 1600; of sleep, "undisturbed, unbroken," from 1540s.
sound (v.2)
"fathom, probe, measure the depth of water" with or as if with a sounding line and lead, mid-14c. (implied in sounding), from Old French sonder, from sonde "sounding line," perhaps from the same Germanic source that yielded Old English sund "water, sea" (see sound (n.2)). Barnhart dismisses the old theory that it is from Latin subundare. Figurative use from 1570s, "examine, discover or attempt to discover that which is concealed."
Soundex (n.)
phonetic coding system, 1959, from sound (n.1) + brand-name suffix -ex.
soundless (adj.)
"noiseless, silent," c. 1600 from sound (n.1) + -less. Earlier "unfathomable" (1580s), from the noun from sound (v.2). Related: Soundlessly; soundlessness. Soundful "tuneful" (1610s) seems to be obsolete.
soundly (adv.)
c. 1400, "safely;" also "deeply, uninterruptedly" (of sleep), from sound (adj.) + -ly (2). From 1570s as "thoroughly." Also in reference to sleep simply sound (c. 1400), as in sound asleep (implied by early 15c.: sownd slepand).
sound-proof (adj.)
also soundproof, "impervious to sound," 1853, from sound (n.1) + proof (n.).
soundtrack (n.)
also sound-track, "the sound component of a film," originally contained in a narrow band on the left side of the filmstrip, 1929, from sound (n.1) + track (n.), perhaps suggested by that word's earlier use in reference to phonographs.
soup (n.)
"liquid food," 1650s, from French soupe "soup, broth" (13c.), from Late Latin suppa "bread soaked in broth," from a Germanic source (compare Middle Dutch sop "sop, broth"), from Proto-Germanic *sup-, from PIE *sub-, from root *seue- (2) "to take liquid" (see sup (v.2) and compare sop (n.)).
Served usually before the meat or fish at a formal dinner, hence soup to nuts "everything" (1910), nuts being commonly served after the meal. Soup-kitchen, "public establishment supported by voluntary contributions, for preparing and serving soup to the poor at no cost" is attested from 1839. In Ireland, souper meant "Protestant clergyman seeking to make proselytes by dispensing soup in charity" (1854).
soup (v.)
"increase the horsepower of an engine," 1921, probably from soup (n.) in slang sense of "narcotic injected into horses to make them run faster" (1911) and influenced by supercharge (v.). Related: Souped-up (1931).
soupcon (n.)
"a slight trace or suggestion," 1766 (Walpole), from French soupçon "a suspicion," from Old French sospeçon "suspicion, worry, anxiety" (12c.), from Late Latin suspectionem (see suspicion).
soupy (adj.)
"like soup, having the consistence or appearance of soup; thickly wet," 1828 (noted then as a Yorkshire word), from soup (n.) + -y (2). Related: Soupiness.
sour (v.)
c. 1300, souren, "become sour, become harsh or unpleasant;" mid-14c., transitive, "make sour," of dough, etc., by fermentation; from sour (adj.). Compare Old High German suren, German säuern. Related: Soured; souring.
sour (adj.)
Old English sur "sharp and acidic to the taste, tart, acid, fermented," from Proto-Germanic *sura- "sour" (source also of Old Norse surr, Middle Dutch suur, Dutch zuur, Old High German sur, German sauer), from PIE root *suro- "sour, salty, bitter" (source also of Old Church Slavonic syru, Russian syroi "moist, raw;" Lithuanian sūras "salty," sūris "cheese"). French sur "sour, tart" (12c.) is a Germanic loan-word.
The meaning "harsh of temper, crabbed, having a peevish disposition" is from early 13c. The sense in whisky sour (1885) is "with lemon added" (1862). Sour cream is attested from 1855. Sour grapes as a figure of the tendency to disparage something only because it is unattainable, from the Aesop fable of the hungry fox, is by 1836.
sourness (n.)
Middle English sournesse, "a sour taste, tartness," from Old English surnes; see sour (adj.) + -ness. The meaning "state or quality of being sour in looks or temper" is from late 15c.
sourball (n.)
1900, "constantly grumbling person;" 1914 as a type of candy with a sour taste; from sour (adj.) + ball (n.1).
source (v.)
"obtain from a specified source," 1972, from source (n.). Related: Sourced. Sourcing (n.) as "the obtaining of goods or parts from a specific source" is by 1960 in modern commercial use.
source (n.)
mid-14c., "support, base," from Old French sourse "a rising, beginning, fountainhead of a river or stream" (12c.), fem. noun taken from past participle of sourdre "to rise, spring up," from Latin surgere "to rise, arise, get up, mount up, ascend; attack," a contraction of surrigere, from assimilated form of sub "up from below" (see sub-) + regere "to keep straight, guide" (from PIE root *reg- "move in a straight line," with derivatives meaning "to direct in a straight line," thus "to lead, rule").
The meaning "a first cause, an origin" is from late 14c., as is that of "fountain-head of a river." The meaning "person or written work supplying information or evidence" is by 1777.
sourdough (n.)
also sour-dough, early 14c., "leavened bread," also "leaven" (late 14c.), from sour (adj.) + dough. Compare German Sauerteig, Dutch zuurdeeg, Danish surdeig.
The meaning "fermented dough" left from a previous mixing is by 1868. This was extended during the 1898 Yukon gold rush to "Arctic prospector or pioneer," from their practice of saving a lump of fermented dough as leaven for raising bread during the winter.
sourly (adv.)
1530s, "in a sour manner," from sour (adj.) + -ly (2). The earlier adverb was Middle English soure "harshly, bitterly; with a foul smell" (c. 1300).
sourpuss (n.)
also sour-puss, "sour-faced person," 1914, American English, from sour (adj.) + puss (n.2) "face."
souse (v.)
late 14c., sousen, "to pickle, steep in vinegar," from Old French sous, souz (adj.) "preserved in salt and vinegar," from Frankish *sultja or some other Germanic source (compare Old Saxon sultia "salt water," Old High German sulza "brine"), from Proto-Germanic *salt- (from PIE root *sal- "salt"). Also "dunk or plunge (someone) in water" (mid-15c.). Related: Soused; sousing.
soused (adj.)
1580s, "pickled;" 1610s, "drunk;" past-participle adjective from souse (v.), the second sense on the notion of one "pickled" in liquor. Also compare dialectal souse (v.) "to strike, smite" (15c.) and its noun, "a heavy blow," which are of uncertain origin.
souse (n.)
something steeped in pickle, especially "pig parts preserved and pickled," mid-15c., sousse; earlier "liquid for pickling" (late 14c.), from souse (v.) or from its French source sous.
sousaphone (n.)
1903, named for U.S. bandleader and composer John Philip Sousa (1854-1932).
sous chef (n.)
by 1840 in the kitchen sense, a French phrase in English, from French sous (French soz, 10c.), from Latin subtus "under, below" (see sub-) + chef.
soutane (n.)
"long, buttoned gown or frock with sleeves, outer garment of Roman Catholic ecclesiastics," 1838, from French soutane, from Old French sotane "undershirt," from Medieval Latin subtana "an under-cassock," from Latin subtus "beneath, under, below" (from PIE root *upo "under").
souteneur (n.)
"a pimp, man who lives on the earnings of one or more prostitutes under his protection," 1906, a French word in English, literally "protector," from soutenir "to sustain" (see sustain).
souter (n.)
"maker or mender of shoes," Middle English soutere, from Old English sutere, from Latin sutor "shoemaker," from suere "to sew, stitch" (from PIE root *syu- "to bind, sew").
From c. 1200 as a surname. In 16c.-17. the type of an uneducated workman and thus sometimes a term of disparagement. Related: Souterly. Fem. form souteress was in Middle English [Cesse þe souteresse sat on þe benche, "Piers Plowman"].
south (adv.)
Old English suþ "southward, to or toward the south, southern, in the south," from Proto-Germanic *sunthaz, perhaps literally "sun-side" (source also of Old Saxon, Old Frisian suth "southward, in the south," Middle Dutch suut, Dutch zuid, German Süden), and related to base of *sunnon "sun" (from PIE root *sawel- "the sun"). Old French sur, sud (French sud), Spanish sur, sud are loan-words from Germanic, perhaps from Old Norse suðr.
As an adjective, "being or situated in the south," from c. 1300. As a noun, "that one of the four cardinal points directly opposite to north," also "southern region of a country," both late 13c.
The Southern states of the U.S. have been collectively called The South since 1779 (in early use this often referred only to Georgia and South Carolina). South country (late 14c.) in Britain is below the Tweed, in England below the Wash, in Scotland below the Forth. The South Sea meant "the Mediterranean" (late 14c.) and "the English Channel" (early 15c.) before it came to mean (in plural) "the South Pacific Ocean" (1520s) and it was frequent for "the Pacific Ocean" generally in U.S. in early 19c. (Thoreau, J.Q. Adams, etc.).
South Africa
1815 as a name for a distinct region that had been partly settled by Europeans; 1910 as the name of a nation. Related: South African.
southbound (adj.)
"travelling south," 1872, originally in railroading, from south + bound (adj.2).
southeast (adv.)
"toward or from the southeast," Middle English south-est, from Old English suðeast; see south + east. As a noun, "direction or region to the south and east," c. 1300. As an adjective, "lying toward or situated in the southeast," late 14c. Related: Southeasterly; southeastern; southeastward. Southeaster "wind or gale from the southeast" is by 1797.
southerly
1550s (adj.), "from or in the south;" 1570s (adv.), "toward the south;" from south + -ly (1) and (2) on pattern of westerly. Related: Southerliness. Earlier adjective was southright "to or from the south" (Old English suþrihte), also southly (mid-15c.). Another old adjective was southen (with -en (2)), in reference to a wind, "from the south," from Old English suþan-wind. Southernly (adj.) "southerly" is attested from 1590s.
southerner (n.)
"inhabitant or native of the south," 1817, American English, from southern + -er (1). Contrasted with Yankee by 1828. Compare Southron. Souther "wind, gale, or storm from the south" is by 1851.
southern (adj.)
"of, pertaining to, directed toward, or coming from the south," Middle English southerne, from Old English suðerne, from suð "south" (see south) + -erne, suffix denoting direction. A common Germanic compound (Old Frisian suthern, Old Norse suðroenn, Old High German sundroni).
The southern-hemisphere constellation known as the Southern Cross was so called in English by 1756. Southern-fried as a generic reference to ways of cooking, etc. characteristic of the U.S. South is by 1972. Related: Southernism.
southernmost (adj.)
"most southerly, farthest toward the south," 1725, from southern + -most. Earlier was southermost (1550s); the older word was southmost.
southland (n.)
Middle English south-lond, from Old English suðland, "the part of a country or the world lying to the south;" see south + land (n.). Specifically by c. 1200 as the southern part of Britain; by 1849 in reference to the Southern states of the U.S.
southmost (adj.)
Old English suðmest; see south + -most.
southpaw (n.)
"lefthander," 1885, originally baseball slang, of pitchers, often said to have been coined by Finley Peter Dunne ("Mr. Dooley"), Chicago sports journalist and humorist, in the days when, it is said, baseball diamonds regularly were laid out with home plate to the west. South paw "blow with a person's left hand" is attested from 1848 in the slang of pugilism.
Southron (n.)
"inhabitant of the southern part of a country," late 15c., variant (originally Scottish and northern English) of southren (late 14c.), on analogy of Briton, Saxon, from Old English suðerne or Old Norse suðrænn "southern" (see southern). Popularized in English by Jane Porter's enormously popular historical novel "Scottish Chiefs" (1810) and formerly affected in U.S. by many in the Southern states. Attested from late 15c. as an adjective. Old English had suðmann "Southman."
southward (adv.)
"toward the south, in a southerly direction," Old English suðweard; see south + -ward. Related: Southwards (Old English).
southwest (adv.)
also south-west, "in a direction between south and west, to or toward the southwest," Old English suð-west; see south + west. As a noun, "direction or region between south and west," from early 12c. In U.S. use by 1835 (in reference to Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana). Related: Southwestward; southwesterly.
Southwester "wind, gale, or storm out of the southwest" is by 1833; as sou'wester by 1836 as the name of a nautical coat that protects the wearer against severe weather.
southwestern (adj.)
also south-western, Middle English south-westerne, from Old English suðwesterne, of a wind, "blowing from the southwest," from southwest + -ern, suffix denoting direction. In reference to a section of the U.S., from 1806, when it meant "of Mississippi and Alabama territories." Related: Southwesterner.
souvenir (n.)
1775, "a remembrance or memory" (Walpole), from French souvenir (12c.), from Old French noun use of souvenir (v.) "to remember, come to mind," from Latin subvenire "come to mind," from sub "up from below" (see sub-) + venire "to come," from a suffixed form of PIE root *gwa- "to go, come." The meaning "token of remembrance, memento, that which reminds one of an event, person, place, etc." is recorded by 1782.
souvlaki (n.)
Greek dish of pieces of meat grilled on a skewer, 1959, from Modern Greek soublaki, from soubla "skewer," in classical Greek "awl," akin to Latin subula, from PIE root *syu- "to bind, sew."
sovereign (n.)
late 13c., soverain, "superior, ruler, master, one who is superior to or has power over another," from Old French soverain "sovereign, lord, ruler," noun use of adjective meaning "highest, supreme, chief" (see sovereign (adj.)). Specifically by c. 1300 as "a king or queen, one who exercises dominion over people, a recognized supreme ruler of a realm." Also of Church authorities and heads of orders or houses as well as local civic officials.
Middle English had a tendency to add an unetymological -t to it, as in pheasant, tyrant. The spelling also was influenced by folk-etymology association with reign. Middle English Compendium lists 38 spellings including suffereignes; Elizabeth I, who was one, spelled it seven different ways. Milton prints it sovran, as though from Italian sovrano.
The meaning "gold coin worth 22s 6d" is attested from late 15c.; the value of it changed 1817 to 1 pound. In the political writings of 17c.-18c. it often has a sense of "the populace as the source of political power, the community in its collective and legislative capacity" and can be opposed to monarch.
sovereign (adj.)
early 14c., of persons, "great, superior, supreme;" mid-14c., "having supreme power;" from Old French soverain "highest, supreme, chief," from Vulgar Latin *superanus "chief, principal" (source also of Spanish soberano, Italian soprano), from Latin super "over" (from PIE root *uper "over"). Of remedies or medicines, "potent in a high degree," from late 14c.
sovereignty (n.)
late 14c., soverainte, "pre-eminence, excellence, superiority;" also "authority, rule, supremacy of power or rank," from Anglo-French sovereynete, Old French souverainete, from soverain (see sovereign (adj.)). The meaning "existence as an independent state" is from 1715; the general sense of "state or character of being in power" is by 1860. Sovereignness (1580s) seems to be disused.
soviet (n.)
1917, "type of elective council forming a unit in a socialist government," from Russian sovet "governing council," literally "council," from Old Russian suvetu "assembly," from su "with" (from *su(n)- "with, together," from PIE *ksun- "with") + vetu "counsel." The Slavic word is a loan-translation of Greek symboulion "council of advisers."
As a noun, "citizen of the USSR," by 1920. As an adjective from 1918, "of or pertaining to government by soviets;" by 1920 as "of or pertaining to the Soviet Union."
Soviet Union
informal name of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; in use in U.S. newspapers by October 1919.
sow (v.)
Middle English souen, from Old English sawan "to scatter seed upon the ground or plant it in the earth, disseminate" (class VII strong verb; past tense seow, past participle sawen), from Proto-Germanic *sean (source also of Old Norse sa, Old Saxon saian, Middle Dutch sayen, Dutch zaaien, Old High German sawen, German säen, Gothic saian).
This is reconstructed to be from PIE root *sē- "to sow," source of semen, season (n.), seed (n.). The figurative sense of "spread abroad, disseminate" was in Old English; of physical things other than seed, "scatter over, besprinkle," mid-14c. Related: Sowed, sown; sowing. Sowing machine "device for sowing seed" is by 1812.
sow (n.)
Middle English soue, from Old English sugu, su "female of the swine, adult female hog," from Proto-Germanic *su- (source also of Old Saxon, Old High German su, German Sau, Dutch zeug, Old Norse syr).
This is held to be from PIE root *su- (source also of Sanskrit sukarah "wild boar, swine;" Avestan hu "wild boar;" Greek hys "swine;" Latin sus "swine," swinus "pertaining to swine;" Old Church Slavonic svinija "swine;" Lettish sivens "young pig;" Welsh hucc, Irish suig "swine; Old Irish socc "snout, plowshare"). The root is possibly imitative of pig noise, a notion reinforced by the fact that Sanskrit sukharah means "maker of (the sound) 'su.' "
Related to swine. As a term of abuse for a woman, attested from c. 1500. Sowbug "hog-louse, pill-bug" is from 1750; sow in reference to any terrestrial isopod that can roll itself into a ball is from 15c. Also sow-lice (1650s).
sower (n.)
Middle English souere, "one who scatters seed on the ground to be grown for food," from Old English sawere, agent noun from sow (v.). As "that which sows, a sowing machine," 1728.
Soweto (n.)
black African community outside Johannesburg, South Africa, formed from first letters of South Western Townships. Related: Sowetan.
sown
1570s of seed, 1640s of land, past-participle adjective from sow (v.).
sox (n.)
altered plural of sock (n.1), 1905, originally in commercial jargon.
soya (n.)
"soy," 1670s; see soy. Soyaburger is attested from 1953.
soybean (n.)
sozzled (adj.)
"drunk," 1886, from sozzle "to mix or mingle sloppily or confusedly" (1836), also sossle; a low word imitative or suggestive of the notion and used in vernacular for sloppiness, sluttishness, and household disorder. The 20c. verb sozzle "drink heavily" (by 1937) appears to be a back-formation from the adjective. There is a noun sozzle "a sloppy mixture or medicament for drinking" attested by 1823. Related: Sozzly "mentally flaccid, shiftless."
spa (n.)
"medicinal or mineral spring," 1620s, from the name of the health resort in eastern Belgium, known since 14c., that features mineral springs believed to have curative properties. The place name is from Walloon espa "spring, fountain." As "commercial establishment offering health and beauty treatments," by 1960.
space (v.)
in various senses from space (n.); by c. 1400 as "walk, pace" in transitive space out "measure by walking." By 1540s as "to make of a certain extent." By 1680s in typography, "to separate words in print by blank types." It is attested by 1703 in a general sense of "arrange at set intervals."
The slang meaning "be in a state of drug-induced euphoria" is recorded by 1968; spaced-out in reference to this is by 1965, and space cadet "eccentric person disconnected with reality" (often implying an intimacy with hallucinogenic drugs) is a 1960s phrase. All probably are traceable to the popular 1950s U.S. sci-fi television program about a spaceman in training, "Tom Corbett, Space Cadet." Related: Spaced; spacing.
space (adj.)
c. 1600, from space (n.). The meaning "having to do with outer space" is from 1894.
spacing (n.)
"allowing and regulating of intervals between words in setting type," 1680s, verbal noun from space (v.).
space (n.)
c. 1300, "extent or area; room" (to do something), a shortening of Old French espace "period of time, distance, interval" (12c.), from Latin spatium "room, area, distance, stretch of time," a word of unknown origin (also source of Spanish espacio, Italian spazio).
From early 14c. as "amount or extent of time," and in Middle English the word was largely used of time (space of an hour, etc.). Also from early 14c. as "a place;" it is attested from mid-14c. as "distance, interval between two or more objects;" from late 14c. as "ground, land, territory; extension in three dimensions; distance between two or more points." It is recorded by early 15c. as "size, bulk," also "an assigned position."
Typographical sense of "blank type to separate words in print" is attested from 1670s. The typewriter's space-bar is from 1876, earlier space-key (1860).
The astronomical sense of "stellar depths, immense emptiness between the worlds as a characteristic of the universe" is by 1723, perhaps as early as "Paradise Lost" (1667), but common from 1890s.
In this sense a prolific 20c. compound-breeder, many perhaps modeled on earlier ones in air- : Space age is attested from 1946 in reference to the era of human conquest of space but often rather of commercial products that spun off the effort. Many of these first appear in science fiction and speculative writing: spaceship (1894, "A Journey in Other Worlds," John Jacob Astor); spacecraft (1928, Popular Science); space travel (1931); space station "large artificial satellite used as a base for space exploration" (1936, "Rockets Through Space"); space flight (June 1931, Popular Science, from April in newspapers); spaceman (1942, Thrilling Wonder Stories).
Space race in reference to competition among nations to explore space is attested from 1959. Space shuttle attested by 1970.
Space-saving as an adjective is from 1855 (time-and-space-saving is by 1847). Related: space-saver.
spacecraft (n.)
"vehicle designed to travel in space," 1928, from space (n.) + craft (n.).
spaceman (n.)
1942 in the sense of "one who travels in space," from space (n.) + man (n.). Earlier it meant "journalist paid by the length of copy" (1892). Spacewoman in the astronaut sense is recorded from 1960.
spacer (n.)
typewriter mechanism and key for making spaces between words, 1882, agent noun from space (v.). It was used earlier in a different sense in telegraphy.
spaceship (n.)
"manned spacecraft," 1894, from space (n.) + ship (n.). Spaceship earth is from 1966.
spacesuit (n.)
also space-suit, "garment designed to protect the wearer from conditions in space," 1920, from space (n.) + suit (n.).
spacewalk (n.)
also space-walk, 1965, from space (n.) + walk (n.).
spacy (adj.)
also spacey, 1852, "large, roomy, spacious," from space (n.) + -y (2). The meaning "felt as characteristic of outer space," especially "in a higher state of consciousness" (especially with reference to electronic music) is attested from 1971, probably influenced by spaced-out (1965, American English slang), a reference to the behavior of people using hallucinogenic drugs (see space (v.)).
spacious (adj.)
late 14c., of dwellings, "large, roomy;" of land, "of great extent;" from Old French spacios, espacios "roomy; extensive" (12c., Modern French spacieux) and directly from Latin spatiosus "roomy, ample" (Medieval Latin spaciosus), from spatium "room, space" (see space (n.)). Related: Spaciously; spaciousness.
Spackle (n.)
proprietary name for a surfacing compound, 1927, probably based on German spachtel "putty knife, mastic, filler." The verb is attested from 1940. Related: Spackled; spackling.
Spad (n.)
French biplane fighter of World War I, 1917, French spad, acronym from Societé pour Aviation et ses Dérivés.
spade (n.1)
"tool for digging having a thick blade for pressing into the ground," Old English spadu "spade," from Proto-Germanic *spadan (source also of Old Frisian spada "a spade," Middle Dutch spade "a sword," Old Saxon spado, Middle Low German spade, German Spaten).
This is reconstructed to be from PIE *spe-dh- (source also of Greek spathē "wooden blade, paddle"), which as a suffixed form has been grouped under a root *speh-, "with several extensions, denoting quite different implements" (Boutkan) but basically indicating "long, flat piece of wood" (source also of Old English spon "chip of wood, splinter," Old Norse spann "shingle, chip;" see spoon (n.)).
"A spade differs from a two-handed shovel chiefly in the form and thickness of the blade" [Century Dictionary].
To call a spade a spade "use blunt language, call things by right names even if homely or coarse" (1540s) translates a Greek proverb (known to Lucian), ten skaphen skaphen legein "to call a bowl a bowl," but Erasmus mistook Greek skaphē "trough, bowl" for a derivative of the stem of skaptein "to dig," and the mistake has stuck [see OED].
spade (n.2)
black figure on playing cards, 1590s, probably from Italian spade, plural of spada "the ace of spades," literally "sword, spade," from Latin spatha "broad, flat weapon or tool," from Greek spathe "broad blade" (see spade (n.1)). So called for the shape, though what the shape was exactly meant to represent has been debated.
The phrase in spades "in abundance" is recorded by 1929 (Damon Runyon), probably from bridge, where spades are the highest-ranking suit.
The derogatory meaning "black person" is 1928, from the color of the playing card symbol.
spado (n.)
"castrated person," early 15c., from Latin spado, from Greek spadōn "eunuch," which, according to Beekes, is related to spadix "branch torn off, (torn off) twig" and derived from span "pull out, pluck; tear away" (see spasm). Also sometimes Englished as spade (1670s).
spae (v.)
"foretell, divine, predict from signs," c. 1300, spa, a Northern and Scottish word, from Old Norse spa, cognate with Danish spaa "prophesy" and related to Old Saxon spahi, Old High German spahi "wise, skillful," Old High German spehon "to spy" (see spy (v.)).
Also as a noun, c. 1300, "a prediction, a prophecy." Related: Spae-book "book containing directions for telling fortunes;" spaeman; spaewife.
spaghetti (n.)
Italian dish of macaroni made long and rather thin, 1845 (as sparghetti, in 4th edition of Eliza Acton's "Modern Cookery"), from Italian spaghetti, plural of spaghetto "string, twine," diminutive of spago "cord," a word of uncertain origin.
Less thin than vermicelli. In reference to interlaced roadways by 1963. Spaghetti Western (one set in the U.S. Old West but filmed in Italy) is attested by 1969. Spaghetti strap is from 1972, so called for being thin and cord-like.