A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

caribou --- c.1665, from Micmac (Algonquian) kaleboo, lit. "pawer, scratcher," from its kicking snow aside to feed on moss and grass.

caricature --- 1748, from Fr. caricature, from It. caricatura "satirical picture," lit. "an overloading," from caricare "to load, exaggerate," from V.L. carricare (see charge). The It. form had been used in Eng. from c.1682.

carillon --- 1775, from Fr., from O.Fr. carignon "set of four bells," from L. quaternionem "set of four."

Carlisle --- Carleol (c.1106), earlier Lugovalio (4c.), from a Celtic proper name *Luguvalos. The Celtic cair "fortified town" was added after Roman times.

Carmelite --- c.1500, from L. Carmelites, member of an order of mendicant friars (White Friars) founded 12c. by Berthold of Calabria on Mount Carmel in northwest Israel, from Heb. karmel, lit. "garden, fertile land."

carmine --- 1712, from Fr. carmin, from M.L. carminium, from Arabic qirmiz "crimson," from Skt. krimiga "insect-produced," from krmi "worm, insect." The dye comes from crushed cochineal insects. Influenced in L. by minium "red lead."

carnage --- 1600, from M.Fr. carnage, from O.It. carnaggio "slaughter, murder," from M.L. carnaticum "flesh," often "meat supplied by tenants in tribute to a feudal lord," from L. carnaticum "slaughter of animals," from caro (acc. carnem) "flesh."

carnal --- c.1400, "fleshly, sensual, sexual," from M.L. carnalis "natural, of the same blood," from L. carnis "of the flesh," gen. of caro "flesh."

carnation --- 1538, either a corruption of coronation (q.v.) from the flower's being used in chaplets or from the toothed crown-like look of the petals; or for its pinkness from M.Fr. carnation "person's color or complexion," probably from It. carnagione "flesh color," from L.L. carnationem (nom. carnatio) "fleshiness," from L. caro "flesh."

carnival --- 1549, "time of merrymaking before Lent," from It. carnevale "Shrove Tuesday," from older It. forms like Milanese *carnelevale, O.Pisan carnelevare "to remove meat," lit. "raising flesh," from L. caro "flesh" + levare "lighten, raise;" folk etymology is from M.L. carne vale " 'flesh, farewell.' " Meaning "a circus or fair" is 1931, N.Amer., as is the short form carny for "one who works at a carnival."

carnivorous --- 1646, from L. carnivorus "flesh-eating," from caro "flesh" + vorare "to devour" (see voracious). Carnivora was applied to a large order of flesh-eating mammals (1830) by Fr. naturalist Georges Léopole Chrétien Frédéric Dagobert, Baron Cuvier (1769-1832); carnivore is from 1854.

carob --- 1548, from Fr. carobe, ult. from Arabic kharrub "locust bean pod" (also in Pers. khirnub), from Assyr. kharubu.

carol (n.) --- c.1300, from O.Fr. carole "kind of dance," from M.L. choraula "a dance to the flute," from L. choraules, from Gk. khoraules "flute player who accompanies the choral dance," from khoros "chorus" + aulein "to play the flute," from aulos "reed instrument." The meaning of "Christmas hymn" is 1502.

Carolina --- 1663, N.Amer. colony named for King Charles II (the L. form of the male proper name is Carolus). Earlier Fr. colonists called the region Caroline (1564) in honor of Charles IX, King of France. A 1629 grant here by Charles I of England was named Carolana. The original site of the name is modern S. Carolina and the tract originally included N. Carolina and Georgia; North Carolina first used 1691, in ref. to settlements made from Virginia. The official division into north and south dates from 1710.

Carolingian --- 1881, "belonging to the dynasty founded by Carl the Great" (Fr. Charlemagne), from L. carolus "Charles;" properly Carlovingian (1781), from Fr. Carlovingien.

carom (n.) --- 1779, from Sp. carombola "the red ball in billiards," originally an orange tropical Asian fruit supposed to resemble a red billiard ball, from Marathi (southern Indian) karambal. The verb is 1860, from the noun.

carotene --- 1861, from Ger. carotin, coined 1831 by H.W.F. Wackenroder from L. carota "carrot" + Ger. form of chemical suffix -ine.

carotid --- 1543, "pertaining to the two great arteries of the neck," from Gk. karotides pl. of karotis, from karoun "plunge into sleep or stupor," since compression of these arteries was believed to cause unconsciousness (Galen).

carouse --- 1567, from M.Fr. carousser "drink, quaff, swill," from Ger. gar aus "quite out," from gar austrinken "to drink up entirely."

carousel --- merry-go-round, 1673, earlier "playful tournament of knights in chariots or on horseback" (1650), from Fr. carrousel "a tilting match," from It. carusiello, possibly from carro "chariot," from L. carrus (see car). "A new and rare invencon knowne by the name of the royalle carousell or tournament being framed and contrived with such engines as will not only afford great pleasure to us and our nobility in the sight thereof, but sufficient instruction to all such ingenious young gentlemen as desire to learne the art of perfect horsemanshipp." [letter of 1673]

carp (n.) --- fish, 1393, from O.Fr. carpe, from V.L. carpa (c.575), possibly from Gothic *karpa. A Danube fish (hence the E.Gmc. origin of its name), introduced in Eng. ponds 14c.

carp (v.) --- complain, c.1240, from O.N. karpa "to brag," of unknown origin; meaning turned toward "find fault," probably by infl. of L. carpere "to slander, revile," lit. "to pluck" (see harvest).

carpal --- of the wrist, 1743, from Mod.L. carpalis, from carpus "wrist."

Carpathian --- mountain range of Eastern Europe, from Thracian Gk. Karpates oros, lit. "Rocky Mountain;" related to Albanian karpe "rock."

carpe diem --- 1817, from L., "enjoy the day," lit. "pluck the day (while it is ripe)," an aphorism from Horace ("Odes" I.xi), from PIE *kerp- "to gather, pluck, harvest."

carpenter --- c.1325 (attested from 1121 as a surname), from O.N.Fr. carpentier (O.Fr. charpentier), from L.L. (artifex) carpentarius "wagon maker," from L. carpentum "two-wheeled carriage, cart," from Gaul., from O.Celt. *carpentom (cf. O.Ir. carpat, Gael. carbad "carriage"), probably related to Gaul. karros (see car). Replaced O.E. treowwyrhta. First record of carpenter bee is from 1844.

carpet --- 1291, "coarse cloth;" 1345, "tablecloth, bedspread," from O.Fr. carpite, from M.L. carpita "thick woolen cloth," pp. of L. carpere "to card, pluck," probably because it was made from unraveled, shreded, "plucked" fabric, from PIE *kerp- "to gather, pluck, harvest" (see harvest). Meaning shifted 15c. to floor coverings. The verb meaning "to cover with a carpet" is from c.1626. From 16c.-19c. often with a tinge of contempt, when used of men (e.g. carpet-knight, 1576) by assoc. with luxury, ladies' boudoirs, and drawing rooms. Carpetbagger, scornful appellation for Northerners who went South after the Civil War seeking private gain or political advancement is first attested 1868, Amer.Eng., formed from carpetbag (n.), 1830, a traveling bag made from carpet fabric. On the carpet "summoned for reprimand" is 1900, U.S. colloquial. To sweep (something) under the carpet in the fig. sense is first recorded 1963.

carrack --- c.1386, from O.Fr. carraque, from Arabic qaraqir, pl. of qurqur "merchant ship," perhaps from L. carricare (see charge).

carrel --- 1593, from M.L. carula "small study in a cloister," perhaps from L. corolla "little crown, garland," used in various senses of "ring" (e.g. of Stonehenge: "þis Bretons renged about þe feld, þe karole of þe stones beheld," 1330); extended to precincts and spaces enclosed by rails, etc. Specific sense of "private cubicle in a library" is from 1919.

carriage --- 1388, "act of carrying, means of conveyance," from Anglo-Fr. cariage "cart, carriage," from carier "to carry" (see carry). Specific sense of "horse-drawn, wheeled vehicle for hauling people" first attested 1706.

carrion --- c.1225, from Anglo-Fr. carogne, from V.L. *caronia "carcass," from L. caro "meat."

carrot --- 1533, from M.Fr. carrotte, from L. carota, from Gk. karoton "carrot," from PIE *kre-, from base *ker- "horn, head," so called for its horn-like shape. Planted as a garden vegetable by 1609 by Jamestown colonists.

carry --- c.1320, from Anglo-Fr. carier "to transport in a vehicle," from Gallo-Romance *carrizare, from L.L. carricare, from L. carrum (see car). Sense of "gain victory in an election" is from 1619. Carrier "person or animal that carries and disseminates infection without suffering obvious disease" is from 1899; genetic sense is 1933. As a short form of aircraft carrier it dates from 1917. Carrier pigeon is from 1641. Carry-all in the baggage sense is from 1884. Carry on "continue to advance" is from 1649; carryings-on "questionable doings" is from 1663. Carry-castle (1598) was an old descriptive term for an elephant.

cart --- c.1200, from O.N. kartr, akin to O.E. cræt "chariot," perhaps orig. "body of a cart made of wickerwork, hamper;" related to O.E. cradol (see cradle). The verb meaning "to carry in a cart" is from c.1440. Cartwheel (n.) is from c.1395; as a sort of lateral somersault it is attested from 1864, so called from resemblance.

carte blanche --- 1707, from Fr., lit. "blank paper" (see card (n.)); figurative sense of "full discretionary power" is from 1766.

carte-de-visite --- 1861, from Fr., lit. "visiting card" (see card (n.)); photograph portrait mounted on a 3.5 by 2.5 inch card.

cartel --- 1560, "a written challenge," from M.Fr. cartel, from It. cartello, dim. of carta "card." It came to mean "written agreement between challengers" (1692). Sense of "a commercial trust" comes 1902, via Ger. Kartell.

Cartesian --- 1656, from Cartesius, Latinized form of the name of Fr. philosopher and mathematician René Descartes (1596-1650).

Carthusian --- c.1394, from L. Cartusianus, in reference to an austere order of monks founded 1086 by St. Bruno at Chartreux, village in Dauphiné, France.

cartilage --- 1541, from L. cartilago (gen. cartilaginis) "cartilage, gristle."

cartography --- 1859, from Fr. cartographie, from M.L. carta (see card (n.)) + Fr. -graphie, from Gk. -graphein "to write, to draw."

carton --- 1816, from Fr. carton "pasteboard," from It. cartone "pasteboard," augmentive of M.L. carta "paper" (see card (n.)). Originally the material for making paper boxes; extended 1906 to the boxes themselves.

cartoon --- 1671, from Fr. carton, from It. cartone "strong, heavy paper, pasteboard," thus "preliminary sketches made by artists on such paper," augmentive of M.L. carta "paper" (see card (n.)). Extension to comical drawings in newspapers and magazines is 1843. Cartoonist first recorded 1880. "Punch has the benevolence to announce, that in an early number of his ensuing Volume he will astonish the Parliamentary Committee by the publication of several exquisite designs, to be called Punch's Cartoons!" ["Punch," June 24, 1843]

cartouche --- 1611, Fr. form of cartridge (q.v.). Application to Egyptian hieroglyphics dates from 1830, on resemblance to rolled paper cartridges.

cartridge --- 1579, corruption of Fr. cartouche "a full charge for a pistol," from It. cartoccio "roll of paper," an augmentive form of M.L. carta "paper" (see card (n.)). The notion is of a roll of paper containing a charge for a firearm.

carve --- O.E. ceorfan (class III strong verb; past tense cearf, pp. corfen), from W.Gmc. *kerfan, from PIE base *gerebh- "to scratch," making carve the Eng. cognate of Gk. graphein. Once extensively used, most senses now usurped by cut. Meaning specialized to sculpture, meat, etc., by 16c. Strong conjugation became weak, but archaic carven is still encountered. In a set of dining chairs, the one with the arms, usually at the head of the table, is the carver (1927), reserved for the one who carves.

caryatid --- 1563, "carved female figure used as a column," from M.Fr. cariatide, from L. caryatides, from Gk. Karyatides "priestess of Artemis at Caryae" (Gk. Karyai), a town in Laconia where dance festivals were held in Artemis' temple.

Casablanca --- city in Morocco, Sp., lit. "white house."

Casanova --- 1888, from Giacomo Girolamo Casanova de Seignalt (1725-98), legendary debaucher.

casbah --- from Fr. casbah, from N.African Arab dialect kasba "fortress."

cascade --- 1641, from Fr., from It. cascata "waterfall," from cascare "to fall," from V.L. *casicare, from L. casum, pp. of cadere "to fall" (see case (1)). The verb is attested from 1702.

case (1) --- state of affairs, c.1225, from O.Fr. cas "an event," from L. casus "a chance," lit. "a falling," from cas-, pp. stem of cadere "to fall," from PIE base *kad- "to fall" (cf. Skt. sad- "to fall down," Armenian chacnum "to fall, become low," perhaps also M.Ir. casar "hail, lightning"). The notion being "that which falls" as "that which happens." Widespread extended senses in law, medicine, grammar, etc. In case "in the event" is recorded from c.1340.

case (2) --- receptacle, c.1300, from O.N.Fr. casse, O.Fr. chasse, from L. capsa "box," from capere "to take, hold" (see capable). The verb meaning "examine, inspect" (usually prior to robbing) is Amer.Eng. slang first recorded 1915. Staircase is from 1663. Artillery sense is from 1667, from case-shot "small projectiles put in cases" (1625). Reference in the printing trade (first recorded 1588) to the two trays where compositors keep their types in separate compartments for easy access led to upper case for capitals and lower case for small letters.

casement --- 1430, probably aphetic of O.Fr. dial. enchassement "window frame," from en- "in," prefix forming verbs, + casse "case, frame" (see case (2)) + -ment. Or possibly from Anglo-L. cassementum, from casse. The Irish surname is originally Mc Casmonde (attested from 1429), from Mac Asmundr, from Ir. mac "son of" + O.N. Asmundr "god protector."

cash --- 1593, from M.Fr. caisse "money box," from Prov. caissa, It. cassa, from L. capsa "box" (see case (2)); originally the money box, but the secondary sense of the money in it became sole meaning 18c. Verb meaning "to convert to cash" (as a check, etc.) is first attested 1811. Like most financial terms in Eng., ultimately from It. (cf. bankrupt, etc.). Not related to (but influencing the form of) the colonial British cash "Indian monetary system, Chinese coin, etc.," which is from Tamil kasu, Skt. karsha, Sinhalese kasi.

cashew --- 1704, aphetic of Fr. acajou, from older Port. acajú from Tupi (Brazil) acajuba, name of the tree that produces the nut.

cashier (n.) --- person in charge of money, 1596, from M.Fr. caissier "treasurer," from caisse "money box" (see cash).

cashier (v.) --- dismiss, 1592, from M.Du. casseren "to cast off, discharge," from Fr. casser "to discharge, annul," from L.L. cassare "annul," from L. cassus "void, empty" (see quash).

cashmere --- 1684, old spelling of Kashmir, Himalayan kingdom where wool was obtained from long-haired goats. The name is from Skt. Kashypamara "land of Kashyap," said to be the name of a renowned sage. As a name for this kind of woolen fabric, favored for shawls, etc., or for the shawls themselves, it is attested from 1822.

Casimir --- proper name, from Pol. Kazimir, lit. "proclaimer of peace," from kazac "to preach" + mir "peace" (see Mir).

casino --- 1744, "public room for music or dancing," from It. casino, dim. of casa "house," from L. casa "hut, shed," of uncertain origin. The card game is attested by that name from 1792.

cask --- 1458, from M.Fr. casque "cask, helmet," from Sp. casco "skull, cask, helmet," orig. "potsherd," from cascar "to break up," from V.L. *quassicare, freq. of L. quassare "to shake, shatter" (see quash). The sense evolution is unclear.

casket --- 1461, "small box for jewels, etc.," possibly formed as a dim. of Eng. cask, or from Norm.-Fr. cassette, from M.Fr. casset (see cassette). Meaning of "coffin" is Amer.Eng., probably euphemistic, first attested 1849. "Caskets! a vile modern phrase, which compels a person ... to shrink ... from the idea of being buried at all." [Hawthorne, 1863]

casque --- armor for the head, 1580, from Fr., see cask.

Cassandra --- Gk. kasandra, daughter of Priam of Troy, seduced by Apollo, who gave her the gift of prophecy, but when she betrayed him he amended it so that, though she spoke truth, none would believe her. Used figuratively since c.1668.

cassava --- 1555, from Port. cassave, from Taino (Haiti) caçabi.

casserole --- 1706, from Fr. casserole "sauce pan," dim. of M.Fr. casse "pan," from Prov. cassa "melting pan," from M.L. cattia, possibly from Gk. kyathion, dim. of kyathos "bowl, cup." Originally the pan, since 1958 also the dishes cooked in it.

cassette --- 1793, "little box," from Fr. cassette, from M.Fr. casset, dim. of Norm.-Fr. casse "box" (see case (2)). Meaning "magnetic tape recorder cartridge" is from 1960.

cassock --- c.1550, from M.Fr. casaque "long coat," probably ultimately from Turk. quzzak "nomad, adventurer," (the source of Cossack), an allusion to their typical riding coat. Or perhaps from Arabic kazagand, from Pers. kazhagand "padded coat," from kazh "raw silk" + agana "stuffed."

cassowary --- 1611, from Fr. or Du., from Malay kasuari.

cast (v.) --- c.1230, from O.N. kasta "to throw." The noun sense of "a throw" (c.1300) carried an idea of the form the thing takes after it has been thrown, which led to varied meanings, such as "group of actors in a play" (1631). OED finds 42 distinct noun meaning and 83 verbal ones, with many sub-definitions. A cast in the eye preserves the older sense of "warp, turn," in which it replaced O.E. weorpan (see warp), and is itself largely superseded now by throw. Still used of fishing line and glances. Castaway first recorded 1526. Cast-iron is 1664.

castanet --- 1647, from Sp. castaneta dim. of castana "chestnut," from L. castanea.

caste --- 1555, "a race of men," from L. casto "chaste," from castus "pure, cut off, separated," pp. of carere "to be cut off from" (and related to castrate), from PIE base *kes- "to cut."Application to Hindu social groups picked up in India 17c. from Port. casta "breed, race, caste," earlier casta raca "unmixed race," from the same L. word.

caster --- pepper shaker, 1676, on notion of "throwing;" meaning "wheel and swivel attached to furniture" is from 1748, from cast (q.v.) in the old sense of "turn."

castigate --- 1607, from L. castigatus pp. of castigare "to purify, chastise," from castus "pure" (see caste) + agere "to do." Sense of "make someone pure by correcting or reproving him." "If thou didst put this soure cold habit on To castigate thy pride, 'twere well." [Shakespeare, "Timon" IV.iii (1607)]

castle --- late O.E. castel, from O.N.Fr. castel, from L. castellum "fortified village," dim. of castrum "fort;" cognate with O.Ir. cather, Welsh caer "town" (and perhaps related to castrare "cut off"). This word had come to O.E. as ceaster and formed the -caster and -chester in place names. Sp. alcazar "castle" is from Arabic al-qasr, from L. castrum. The move in chess is recorded under this name from 1656. In early bibles, castle was used to translate Gk. kome "village," causing much confusion. Castile the medieval Sp. kingdom, is from L. castellum, with reference to the many forts there during the Moorish wars. Castles in Spain translated a 14c. Fr. term (the imaginary castles sometimes stood in Asia or Albania) and probably reflects the hopes of landless knights to establish themselves abroad.

castor --- beaver, 1398, from O.Fr. castor, from L. castor "beaver," from Gk. Kastor "he who excels," one of the divine twins (with Pollux), worshipped by women in ancient Greece as a healer and preserver from disease. His name was given to secretions of the animal, used medicinally in ancient times. Through this association his name replaced the native L. word for "beaver," which was fiber. Modern castor oil is first recorded 1746; it is made from seeds of the plant Ricinus communis but supposedly possesses qualities (and taste) similar to those of beaver juice, and thus so named.

castration --- c.1420, from L. castrationem, agent noun of castrare "to castrate, prune," related to *castrum "knife," from PIE base *kes- "to cut." Hence castrato (pl. castrati), borrowed 1763 from the It. form of the word. Freud's castration complex is 1914 in Eng.

casual --- c.1374, "subject to or produced by chance," from O.Fr. casuel, from L.L. casualis "by chance," from L. casus "chance, event" (see case (1)). Of persons, in the sense of "not to be depended on, unmethodical," it is attested from 1883. Casualty in the modern military sense is 1844, from the word's older sense of "accident" (1423).

casuist --- 1609, "one who studies and resolves cases of conscience," from Fr. casuiste, from L. casus (see case (1)). Often in a sinister or contemptuous sense. Casuistry is first attested 1725. "Casuistry ... destroys, by distinctions and exceptions, all morality, and effaces the essential difference between right and wrong." [Bolingbroke, 1736]

casus belli --- 1849, from L. casus "case" + belli, gen. of bellum "war." An act justifying war.

CAT --- 1975, medical acronym for computerized axial tomography.

cat --- O.E. (c.700), from W.Gmc. (c.400-450), from P.Gmc. *kattuz, from L.L. cattus. The near-universal European word now, it appeared in Europe as L. catta (Martial, c.75 C.E.), Byzantine Gk. katta (c.350) and was in general use on the continent by c. 700, replacing L. feles. Probably ult. Afro-Asiatic (cf. Nubian kadis, Berber kadiska, both meaning "cat"). Ar. qitt "tomcat" may be from the same source. Cats were domestic in Egypt from c.2000 B.C.E., but not a familiar household animal to classical Greeks and Romans. The nine lives have been proverbial since at least c.1562. Extended to lions, tigers, etc. 1607. As a term of contempt for a woman, from c.1225. Slang sense of "prostitute" is from at least 1401. Slang sense of "fellow, guy," is from 1920, originally in U.S. Black Eng.; narrower sense of "jazz enthusiast" is recorded from 1931. Catcall first recorded 1659; catnap is from 1823; catfish is from 1620; catwalk is from 1917. Cat's-cradle is from 1768. Cat-o'-nine-tails (1695), probably so called in reference to its "claws," was legal instrument of punishment in British Navy until 1881. Cat's paw (1769, but cat's foot in the same sense, 1597) refers to old folk tale in which the monkey tricks the cat into pawing chestnuts from a fire; the monkey gets the nuts, the cat gets a burnt paw. To rain cats and dogs (c.1652) is probably an extension of cats and dogs as proverbial for "strife, enmity" (1579). Cat-witted "small-minded, obstinate, and spiteful" (1673) deserved to survive. For Cat's meow, cat's pajamas, see bee's knees.

cata- --- from Gk. kata-, before vowels kat-. Its principal sense is "down," but with occasional senses of "against" or "wrongly." Also sometimes used as an intensive. Most Eng. words with this prefix were borrowed through L. after 1500; e.g. catalectic (1589) "wanting a syllable in the last foot."

cataclysm --- 1633, from Fr. cataclysme, from L. cataclysmos, from Gk. kataklysmos, from kata "down" + klyzein "to wash."

catacomb --- O.E. catacumbas, from L.L. (400 C.E.) catacumbae, originally the region of underground tombs between the 2nd and 3rd milestones of the Appian Way (where the bodies of apostles Paul and Peter were said to have been laid), origin obscure, perhaps once a proper name, or dissimilation from L. cata tumbas "at the graves," from cata- "among" + tumbas, acc. pl. of tumba "tomb." Extended 1836 to any subterranean receptacle of the dead (as in Paris).

catafalque --- 1641, from Fr. catafalque, from It. catafalco "scaffold," from V.L. *catafalicum, from Gk. kata- "down," used in M.L. with a sense of "beside, alongside" + fala "scaffolding."

catalog --- see catalogue.

catalogue --- 1460, from L.L. catalogus, from Gk. katalogos "a list, register," from kata "down, completely" + legein "to say, count" (see lecture). The verb is first attested 1598.