Abbreviations used in definitions and etymologies

This list contains all the abbreviations used in the definitions and etymologies of the OED. Click on a letter to see the abbreviations beginning with that letter.

Note that the words listed are not always used in the abbreviated form: some words are only abbreviated in certain contexts, e.g. when used as a subject label.

Other lists of abbreviations are available:

• Combined abbreviations list (172K)
• Abbreviations used in work titles
• Abbreviations of author names
• Shakespearean plays
• Books of the Bible
• Months of the year
• Collation of language names