z

Z < middle english zed < middle french zede < late latin zeta < ancient greek ζήτα | zēta < hebrew zayin (= weapon).

Zachariah < late latin Zacharias < ancient greek Ζαχαρίας | Zakharias < hebrew Zekharyahu (= the Lord has remembered) < zakhar (= he remembered) + Yah / Yoh, a shortening of Yahwah / Yahweh (= God).

zany < french zani < italian zan(n)i (= clown) < venetian Zanni < Gianni < Giovanni (= John) < medieval latin Johannes < late latin Joannes < ancient greek Ιωάννης | Iōannēs < hebrew Yohanan (= God is gracious) < Yah / Yoh, a shortening of Yahwah / Yahweh (= God) + hanan (= he was gracious).

Zanzibar < Zengi (= black), a local people + arabic barr (= coast, shore).

zap < imitative origin.

zarf (= holder for a coffee cup) < arabic zarf (= vessel).

zeal < middle english zeal < old french zel < late latin zelus (= zeal, emulation) < ancient greek ζήλος | zēlos (= ardor, emulation, jealousy).

zealot < middle english zealot < late latin zelotes < ancient greek ζηλωτής | zēlōtēs (= one who is a zealous follower) < ζηλώ | zēlō (= to be zealous) < ζήλος | zēlos (= zeal).

zealous < medieval latin zelosus (= full of zeal) < zelus (= zeal, emulation) < ancient greek ζήλος | zēlos (= ardor, emulation, jealousy).

zebra < italian zebra < (?) latin equiferus (= wild horse) < equus (= horse) + ferus (= wild).

zebu < french zebu, an asiatic ox < tibetan origin.

Zebulon < hebrew Zebhulun < zebhul (= a dwelling).

zed < middle english zed < middle french zede < late latin zeta < ancient greek ζήτα | zēta < hebrew zayin (= weapon).

zein < zea < late latin zea (= spelt) < ancient greek ζεία | zoea (= one-seeded wheat, barley, corn).

zeitgeist < german Zeitgeist (= spirit of the age) < Zeit (= time) (< proto-germanic *tidiz (= division of time)) + Geist (= spirit).

Zen < japanese zen < chinese ch’an < sanskrit dhyana (= thought, meditation) < I.E. *dheie- (= see).

Zend < old persian zend < pahlavi zand (= commentary) < avestan zainti- (= knowledge) < I.E. *gno- (= to know).

zenith < middle english zenith < old french cenith < medieval latin cenit / senit [(?) by influence of latin semita (= sidetrack, side path)] < arabic samt (= road, path), an abbreviation of samt ar-ras (= the way over the head).

Zenobia < ancient greek Ζηνοβία | Zēnobhia (= force of Zeus) < Ζην | Zēn, poetic form of Ζευς | Zefs (= Zeus) [the master of gods] + βία | bhia (= strength, force).

zephyr < middle english zephyr < old english Zefferus < latin Zephyrus < ancient greek Ζέφυρος | Zephyros (= the west wind).

zeppelin < german Zeppelin, a shortening of Zeppelinschiff (= Zeppelin ship) [1900] < [Ferdinand von] Zeppelin [German general who perfected its design] + schiff (= ship).

zero < french zéro < italian zero < medieval latin zephirum < arabic sifr (= cipher) < a translation of sanskrit sunya-m (= empty place, desert, naught).

zest < french zeste (= piece of orange or lemon peel used as a flavoring).

zetetic < modern latin zeteticus < ancient greek ζητητικός | zētētikos (= searching) < ζητητός | zētētos (= inquiring) < ζητώ | zētō (= seek for, inquire into).

zeugma < ancient greek ζεύγμα | zeughma (= joiner, boat bridge) < ζεύγνυμι | zevghnymi (= to yoke).

Zeus < ancient greek Ζευς | Zefs [gen. Διός | Dhios] < I.E. *dewos- (= god) {> old persian daiva- (= demon), old church slavonic deivai, sanskrit deva-} < *dyeu- (= to shine).

zig-zag < french zigzag < (?) german Zickzack < (?) a reduplication of Zacke (= tooth, prong).

ziggurat < zikkurat < assyrian ziqquratu (= height, pinnacle) < zaqaru (= to be high).

Zimbabwe < bantu zimba we bahwe (= houses of stones) < zimba, plural of imba (= house) + bahwe (= stones).

zinc < zinke < german Zink, (?) related to Zinke (= prong, point) (< old high german zint (= point, jag) < proto-germanic *teng- (= tine)).

zing < echoic origin.

zinnia < modern latin zinnia < german [Johann Gottfried] Zinn, German botanist.

Zion < old english Sion < ancient greek Σιών | Siōn < hebrew Tsiyon [a hill fortress in Jerusalem, the center of Jewish nation].

zip < echoic origin.

zither < german Zither < old high german zitara < latin cithara < ancient greek κιθάρα | kithara (= guitar).

zodiac < middle english zodiac < old french zodiaque < latin zodiacus (= zodiac) < ancient greek ζωδιακός [κύκλος] | zōdhiakos [kyklos] (= zodiac [circle]) < ζώδιον | zōdhion (= little animal) [the zodiac constellations was figured by ancient Greeks as animals], a diminutive of ζώον | zōon (= animal) < ζήω, ζω | zēō, zō (= to live) < I.E. *g^wei- (= to live).

Zoe < ancient greek Ζωή | Zōē (= life) < ζήω, ζω | zēō, zō (= to live) < I.E. *g^wei- (= to live).

zoic < ancient greek ζωικός | zōikos (= of animal) < ζώον | zōon (= animal) < ζήω, ζω | zēō, zō (= to live) < I.E. *g^wei- (= to live).

zombie < 1. kimbundu (of Congo) nzambi (= god) or 2. [creole (of Louisiana)] zombie (= phantom, ghost) < spanish sombra (= shade, ghost).

zone < middle english zone < latin zona (= geographical belt, celestial zone) < ancient greek ζώνη | zōnē (= belt, girdle) < ζώννυμι | zōnnymi (= to gird) < I.E. *yos- (= to gird).

zonk < echoic origin.

zoo < a shortening for Zoological [Gardens], of London < modern latin zoologia < ancient greek ζώον | zōon (= animal) + -λογία | -loghia (= study) (< λόγος | loghos (= a speaking) < λέγω | leghō (= speak)).

zoology < modern latin zoologia < ancient greek ζώον | zōon (= animal) + -λογία | -loghia (= study) (< λόγος | loghos (= a speaking) < λέγω | leghō (= speak)).

zoom < echoic origin.

zoon < ancient greek ζώον | zōon (= animal) < ζήω, ζω | zēō, zō (= to live) < I.E. *g^wei- (= to live).

Zoroastrian < Zoroaster < latin Zoroastres < old persian Zarathushtra, Persian religious teacher < *zarant (= old) + ushtra (= camel).

zorro < spanish zorro, male of zorra (= fox) < basque azaria (= fox).

zoster < latin zoster < ancient greek ζωστήρ / zōstēr (= belt, girdle) < ζώννυμι / zōnnymi (= to gird) < I.E. *yos- (= to gird).

zucchetto < italian zucchetta (= a cap), a diminutive of zucca (= gourd, head) < (?) late latin cucutia.

zucchini < italian zucchini, plural of zucchino < a diminutive of zucca (= gourd, squash) < (?) late latin cucutia.

Zulu < bantu Zulu, a native name.

Zurich < german Zürich < late latin Turicum < (?) celtic *dur- (= water).

zwieback < german Zweiback (= biscuit) < zwei (= two, twice) + backen (= to bake).

zygomatic < latin zygomaticus < ancient greek ζύγωμα / zyghōma (= zygoma, bony arch of the cheek) < ζυγός / zyghos (= yoke) < I.E. *yeug- (= to join).

zygote < ancient greek ζυγωτός / zyghōtos (= yoked) < ζυγός / zyghos (= yoke) < I.E. *yeug- (= to join).

zymurgy < ancient greek ζύμη / zymē (= a leaven) + έργον / erghon (= work).