1. Give the etymology, derivation or suggest an etymology (for a word)
   "The linguist probably etymologised the words incorrectly";
   - etymologize
    
2. (linguistics) construct the history of words
   "The linguist etymologised the term to trace its origins";
   - etymologize

Derived forms: etymologised, etymologises, etymologising

Type of: construct, derive, educe [formal], reconstruct, retrace