The Rice University Neologisms Database

To spend time exploring the articles on the Wikipedia website, or writing or editing articles contributing to the site Apparent meaning, etymology, and type of word formation: “Wikipedia” means to spend time exploring the Wikipedia website, and to read its articles. From its earliest form, the word “Wikipedia” came from a blending of the words “wiki” and “encyclopedia.” A “wiki,” according to the Wikipedia website, is “a group of web pages that allows users to add content…but also permits others to edit the content.” Collaborative software developers also call their development projects wikis as well. The name wiki came from the line of “Wiki Wiki” buses that run in the Honolulu International Airport. The word wiki itself originates from the languages of the Hawaiian Islands, meaning ‘quick,’ ‘fast,’ or ‘to hasten.’ Additionally, some users of Wikipedia have created a backronym for wiki: “What I know is:”, referring to the group collaboration of knowledge. “-pedia” comes by clipping off the end of “encyclopedia,” which means ‘circle of learning’ and comes from late Latin encyclopædia ‘course of general education,’ from the Greek enkyklios + paideia ‘education, child rearing.’ Alternatively the end “-pedia” could have been taken directly from the Greek paideia ‘education, child rearing,’ although the first etymology is more likely because the “-pedia” in “Wikipedia” carries a closer meaning related to the word encyclopedia as a whole, rather than simply ‘education, child rearing.’ The word “Wikipedia” blends “wiki” and “encyclopedia” to mean ‘a freely-editable, open encyclopedia.’ Through zero derivation, this noun has metamorphosed in meaning and can now be used as a verb as well. “To Wikipedia” refers to reading articles on the Wikipedia website, as well as writing or editing articles contributing to the site. Possible reason used: The coiner wanted to more creatively describe the way he spent his time exploring this specific website. Using the verb “to Wikipedia” can explain more specifically what the coiner is doing and decreases ambiguity. It also increases brevity and places emphasis on specifically what the speaker is doing by drawing attention to the new word.