Is there an online site that gives the origins of words? Like “OK” possibly being an abbreviation for “Oll Korrect”, stuff like that. My friend wanted to know where the word “sweetheart” may have made it’s first debuts…
Have you tried a good dictionary?
I can’t help you with online sites sorry.
Merriam-Webster is a good start.
m-w.com says it’s from the 14th century, which comes a bit closer…
The best one I know is http://www.wordorigins.org , run by a real etymology fanatic.
Check out the Word for the Wise section.
http://www.m-w.com/wftw/wftw.htm
Also, in case you are asking about OK in particular, here is what the master has to say:
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_250.html
Check out the Random House Word of the Day site. It has facinating etymologies of many words, expressions, and even origins/meanings of suffixes and prefixes. For instance, OK.
Worldwide Words is often good for this kind of query.