Etymologically
Log in

1600s · Early Modern English

English words first recorded in the 17th century

1,503 English words whose earliest known written record dates from the 17th century, earliest first (page 26). Words dated only to part of the century follow the ones with a year.

  1. smash

    1700

    It is probably imitative, compare smack, mash, crash and clash; MWU suggests a blend of smack and mash.

  2. unfair

    1700

    It is formed from English un- + fair. Old English had unfæger (“unlovely, ugly”), from the older sense of fair, and this sense persisted into Middle English.

  3. wheelchair

    1700

    It is from English wheel + chair, also written wheel-chair.

All English words by century →