I’ve always been interested in etymology or the story behind the origins of words.

I haven’t been as successful finding a good reference book or website though until now.  Check out http://www.etymonline.com/ for a new perspective on some old vocabulary.

We, of course, use words all the time but we don’t often know their stories.  Here are a few examples from the website (notice the origin of the world school below; bolded text are my highlights).

daisy (n.) Old English dægesege, from dæges eage “day’s eye,” because the petals open at dawn and close at dusk. (See day (n.) + eye (n.)). In Medieval Latin it was solis oculus “sun’s eye.” As a female proper name said to have been originally a pet form of Margaret (q.v.).

school (n.1) “place of instruction,” Old English scol, from Latin schola “intermission of work, leisure for learning; learned conversation, debate; lecture; meeting place for teachers and students, place of instruction; disciples of a teacher, body of followers, sect,” from Greek skhole “spare time, leisure, rest ease; idleness; that in which leisure is employed; learned discussion;” also “a place for lectures, school;” originally “a holding back, a keeping clear,” from skhein “to get” (from PIE root *segh- “to hold, hold in one’s power, to have;” see scheme (n.)) + -ole by analogy with bole “a throw,” stole “outfit,” etc.