Public domain books about etymology

 

Here are some public domain books about etymology that you can find online:

• An Etymological Dictionary of the English Language by Walter W. Skeat (1910) is a classic dictionary of English etymology that is still a valuable resource today.
  Opens in a new window www.amazon.com

  Etymological Dictionary of the English Language by Walter W. Skeat (1910)
• The American Dictionary of the English Language by Noah Webster (1828) includes etymological information for many words, as well as definitions and usage notes.
  Opens in a new window www.amazon.co.uk

  American Dictionary of the English Language by Noah Webster (1828)
• The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia (1889) is a comprehensive dictionary of the English language that includes etymological information, definitions, and usage notes.
  Opens in a new window www.ebay.com

  Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia (1889)
• Webster's International Dictionary of the English Language (1909) is another comprehensive dictionary of the English language that includes etymological information, definitions, and usage notes.
  Opens in a new window www.abebooks.com

  Webster's International Dictionary of the English Language (1909)
• The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is the most comprehensive dictionary of the English language, and it includes extensive etymological information for each word. The OED is not in the public domain, but there is a free online version available at Oxford English Dictionary Online.
  Opens in a new window en.wikipedia.org

  Oxford English Dictionary (OED)

In addition to these dictionaries, there are also a number of public domain books that discuss the history of the English language and the origins of words. Here are a few examples:

• The Story of the English Language by Mario Pei (1964) is a popular introduction to the history of the English language.

  Opens in a new window www.ebay.ph

  Story of the English Language by Mario Pei (1964)

• Words and Their Ways in English Speech by James Greenwood (1909) is a collection of essays on the history and development of the English language.

• The Growth of the English Language by Henry Cecil Wyld (1914) is a more academic study of the history of the English language.

I hope this helps!