英语词源字典 - 在线词源网站

vulture (n.)[vulture 词源字典]: late 14c., from Anglo-French vultur, Old French voutoir, voutre (Modern French vautour), from Latin vultur, earlier voltur, perhaps related to vellere "to pluck, to tear" (see svelte). Figurative sense is recorded from 1580s. Related: Vulturine; vulturous.[vulture etymology, vulture origin, 英语词源]
vulva (n.): late 14c., from Latin vulva, earlier volva "womb, female sexual organ," perhaps literally "wrapper," from volvere "to turn, twist, roll, revolve," also "turn over in the mind," from PIE root *wel- (3) "to turn, revolve," with derivatives referring to curved, enclosing objects (see volvox).
VW (n.): 1958, short for Volkswagen, which is German for "people's car" (see folk (n.) + wagon).
vitalism: "The theory that the origin and phenomena of life are dependent on a force or principle distinct from purely chemical or physical forces", Early 19th century: from French vitalisme, or from vital + -ism.
vade mecum: "A handbook or guide that is kept constantly at hand for consultation", Early 17th century: modern Latin, literally 'go with me'.
vox pop: "Popular opinion as represented by informal comments from members of the public, especially when broadcast or published", 1960s: abbreviation of vox populi.
vas deferens: "The duct which conveys sperm from the testicle to the urethra", Late 16th century: from vas + Latin deferens 'carrying away', present participle of deferre.
Vegemite: "A type of savoury spread made from concentrated yeast extract", 1920s: from vegetable, on the pattern of Marmite.
va-va-voom: "The quality of being exciting, vigorous, or sexually attractive", 1950s (originally US): representing the sound of a car engine being revved.
vigesimal: "Relating to or based on the number twenty", Mid 17th century: from Latin vigesimus (from viginti 'twenty') + -al.
volution: "A rolling or revolving motion", Late 15th century; from late Latin volutio(n-), from Latin volut- 'rolled', from the verb volvere.
vesical: "Relating to or affecting the urinary bladder", Late 18th century: from Latin vesica 'bladder' + -al.
vive la difference: "An expression of approval of difference, especially that between the sexes", From French vive la différence, literally 'long live the difference'.
voidance: "The action of voiding or the state of being voided", Late Middle English: from Old French, from the verb voider (see void).
Vulcanian: "Relating to or denoting a type of volcanic eruption marked by periodic explosive events", Early 20th century: from Vulcano, the name of a volcano in the Lipari Islands, Italy, + -ian.
viscose: "A viscous orange-brown solution obtained by treating cellulose with sodium hydroxide and carbon disulphide, used as the basis of manufacturing rayon fibre and transparent cellulose film", Late 19th century: from late Latin viscosus, from Latin viscus 'birdlime'.
vocable: "A word, especially with reference to form rather than meaning", Late Middle English (denoting a name): from French, or from Latin vocabulum, from vocare 'call'.
vagarious: "Erratic and unpredictable in behaviour or direction", Late 18th century (in the sense 'changing, inconstant'): from vagary + -ous.
vindaloo: "A very hot and spicy curry", Probably from Portuguese vin d'alho 'wine and garlic (sauce)', from vinho 'wine' + alho 'garlic'. More The vindaloo is one of the hottest curries in the British Indian restaurant's repertoire, but in origin the word was not Indian and did not imply spiciness. It probably derives from Portuguese vin d'alho ‘wine and garlic sauce’. A recipe for vindaloo is recorded in English in 1888, which describes it as a Portuguese curry, but it did not become familiar until Indian restaurants spread widely in the 1960s.
vuvuzela: "A long horn blown by fans at soccer matches in South Africa", Perhaps from Zulu.