英语词源字典 - 在线词源网站

book (n.)[book 词源字典]: Old English boc "book, writing, written document," traditionally from Proto-Germanic *bokiz "beech" (cognates: German Buch "book" Buche "beech;" see beech), the notion being of beechwood tablets on which runes were inscribed, but it may be from the tree itself (people still carve initials in them). The Old English word originally meant any written document. Latin and Sanskrit also have words for "writing" that are based on tree names ("birch" and "ash," respectively). Meaning "libretto of an opera" is from 1768. A betting book is from 1856.[book etymology, book origin, 英语词源]
Cheka: early Soviet secret police, 1921, from Russian initials of Chrezvychainaya Komissiya "Extraordinary Commission (for Combating Counter-Revolution);" set up 1917, superseded 1922 by G.P.U.
initial (v.): "to mark or sign with initials," 1864, American English, from initial (n.). Related: Initialed; initialing.
initialize (v.): 1833, "to designate by initials," from initial + -ize. Meaning "to make ready for operation" is from 1957. Related: Initialized; initializing.
outward (adj.): Old English utweard "toward the outside, external" (of an enclosure, surface, etc.), earlier utanweard, from ute, utan "outside" (from ut; see out) + -weard (see -ward). Of persons, in reference to the external appearance (usually opposed to inner feelings), it is attested from c. 1500. Also as an adverb in Old English (utaword). Outward-bound "directed on a course out from home port" is first recorded c. 1600; with capital initials, it refers to a sea school founded in 1941. Related: Outwardly; outwardness.
Phi Beta Kappa: undergraduate honorary society, 1776, from initials of Greek philosophia biou kybernetes "philosophy, guide of life."
Schutzstaffel: internal security force of Nazi Germany, 1930, German, literally "defense squadron." Better known by its initials, S.S.
seven-up (n.): children's game, 1830; with capital initials, as the proprietary name of a brand of carbonated drink, it is attested from 1928.
Sten (n.): type of light, rapid-fire submachine gun, 1942, from initials of surnames of designers R.V. Shepherd and H.J. Turpin + En(field); compare Bren.
Sturmabteilung (n.): 1923, from German, literally "storm detachment;" paramilitary force of the Nazi Party, founded 1921, repressed 1934, also know by its initials, S.A.; also see Brown Shirt.
Taser (n.): 1972, formed (probably on model of laser, etc.) from the initials of Tom Swift's electric rifle, a fictitious weapon. A word that threatens to escape the cage of its copyright, despite the strenuous efforts of the owners, who are within their rights to fight to hold it. They also insist, via their attorneys, that it be written all in capitals. Tom Swift was the hero of a series of early 20c. American sci-fi/adventure novels, one of which was titled "Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle." It seems to have spawned a verb, taze or tase. Related: Tased; tasing.
Uncle Sam (n.): symbol of the United States of America, 1813, coined during the war with Britain as a contrast to John Bull, and no doubt suggested by the initials U.S. in abbreviations. "[L]ater statements connecting it with different government officials of the name of Samuel appear to be unfounded" [OED]. The common figure of Uncle Sam began to appear in political cartoons c. 1850. Only gradually superseded earlier Brother Jonathan (1776), largely through the popularization of the figure by cartoonist Thomas Nast. British in World War I sometimes called U.S. soldiers Sammies.
unconditional (adj.): 1660s, from un- (1) "not" + conditional (adj.). Related: Unconditionally. Unconditional surrender in the military sense is attested from 1730; in U.S., often associated with Civil War Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and the taking of Fort Donelson.
The ringing phrase of Grant's latest despatch circulated through the North like some coinage fresh from the mint, and "Unconditional Surrender," which suited the initials of his modest signature, became like a baptismal name. [James Schouler, "History of the United States of America," Dodd, Mead & Co., 1899].