# Etymonline API: Get word origin

> Looks up an English word on Etymonline and returns its origin entries, one per part of speech, with the first date mentioned and cross-referenced words.

Unofficial. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Etymonline.

- Page: https://fous.com/methods/etymonline.com/get-word-origin
- Method: `etymonline.com/get_word_origin`, version 1
- Website: etymonline.com
- Returns: heading, origin explanation, earliest date, related entries, entry link
- Effect: read (it gets data and changes nothing)
- Sign-in: none needed
- Cost: 1 credit per completed run (1¢ with pay as you go); failed runs are free
- Verified: Nov 2, 2026

## Inputs

| Field | Type | Required | In the run below | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `word` | string | yes | `"salary"` | English word to look up, such as salary. |

## Output

From a run on Oct 31, 2026, shortened. Its input:

```json
{
  "word": "salary"
}
```

Its output:

```json
{
  "entries": [
    {
      "heading": "salary (n.)",
      "entry_link": "https://www.etymonline.com/word/salary",
      "earliest_date": "late 13c.",
      "related_entries": [
        "*sal-"
      ],
      "origin_explanation": "late 13c., salarie, \"compensation, payment,\" whether periodical, for regular service or for a specific service; from Anglo-French salarie, Old French salaire \"wages, pay, reward,\" from Latin salarium \"an allowance, a stipend, a pension,\" said to be originally \"salt-money, soldier's allowance for the…"
    },
    {
      "heading": "salary (v.)",
      "entry_link": "https://www.etymonline.com/word/salary#etymonline_v_48299",
      "earliest_date": "late 15c.",
      "related_entries": [
        "salary"
      ],
      "origin_explanation": "\"to pay a regular salary to,\" late 15c. (Caxton), from salary (n.). Related: Salaried \"in receipt of a fixed salary\" (c. 1600), which as an adjective in reference to positions originally was contrasted with honorary (\"without pay\"); from 20c. with hourly (\"paid by the hour\")."
    }
  ]
}
```

## Run it

From code, with a Fous API key in `FOUS_API_KEY`; the answer's `data` holds the output:

```bash
curl https://api.fous.com/v1/runs \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"method":"etymonline.com/get_word_origin","input":{"word":"salary"}}'
```

From an AI agent connected to the Fous MCP server: its `run` with the same method and input. To connect one, give it `set up https://fous.com/SKILL.md`.

## Ask your agent

- Where does the word "salary" come from? I'd like the origin story and when it first showed up in English.
- Look up the etymology of "quarantine" on etymonline.com, including the earliest recorded date and any related words.
- What's the history behind "nice"? I heard it used to mean something totally different. Give me the noun and adjective origins if they differ.
- Pull the etymonline entry for "bankrupt": origin explanation, first attested date, and cross-referenced entries.
- I need the derivation of the word "muscle" plus links to related terms for a vocabulary lesson.

## Input schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "word"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "word": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "description": "English word to look up, such as salary."
    }
  }
}
```

## Output schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "entries"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "entries": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "required": [
          "heading",
          "origin_explanation",
          "earliest_date",
          "related_entries",
          "entry_link"
        ],
        "properties": {
          "heading": {
            "type": "string",
            "description": "Entry heading as printed on the page."
          },
          "entry_link": {
            "type": "string",
            "description": "Link to this entry on Etymonline."
          },
          "earliest_date": {
            "type": [
              "string",
              "null"
            ],
            "description": "First date mentioned in the origin explanation, as printed."
          },
          "related_entries": {
            "type": "array",
            "items": {
              "type": "string"
            },
            "description": "Words cross-referenced from this origin explanation."
          },
          "origin_explanation": {
            "type": "string",
            "description": "Full origin explanation in plain text."
          }
        },
        "additionalProperties": false
      },
      "description": "Origin entries for the requested word, one per listed part of speech."
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false
}
```

## See more

- [Merriam-Webster API: Define word](https://fous.com/methods/merriam-webster.com/define-word.md): Looks up a word or phrase in Merriam-Webster's dictionary and returns its pronunciation, definitions, examples and word history.
- [Dictionary.com API: Define word](https://fous.com/methods/dictionary.com/define-word.md): Looks up an English word on Dictionary.com and returns its pronunciation, audio link, numbered definitions per dialect with examples, word origin and first recorded use.
- [Merriam-Webster API: Get Merriam-Webster Word of the Day](https://fous.com/methods/merriam-webster.com/get-word-of-the-day.md): Gets Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for today or a past archive date, with its meaning, example, pronunciation and background note. Dates without a published entry are unavailable.
- [Dictionary.com API: Get synonyms](https://fous.com/methods/dictionary.com/get-synonyms.md): Gets a word's Thesaurus.com meanings in site order, with part of speech, short meaning, synonyms and antonyms ranked strongest, strong or weak.
- [Merriam-Webster API: Get synonyms](https://fous.com/methods/merriam-webster.com/get-synonyms.md): Looks up a word on its public Merriam-Webster thesaurus page and returns each meaning with its example, synonyms, antonyms and related words.
- [Cambridge University Press API: Define word](https://fous.com/methods/dictionary.cambridge.org/define-word.md): Looks up a word or phrase on Cambridge Dictionary and returns its ordered meanings, example sentences, grammar labels and UK and US pronunciations.
- [WordReference API: Translate word](https://fous.com/methods/wordreference.com/translate-word.md): Translates a word or phrase between languages using WordReference, including usage notes, example sentences and compound forms when shown. Only language pairs listed by WordReference are available.
- [Cambridge University Press API: Translate word](https://fous.com/methods/dictionary.cambridge.org/translate-word.md): Translates a word between English and a language Cambridge supports. Returns the meanings, the translations and any paired examples.