1530s (transitive); see etymology + -ize. Compare French étymologiser, from Medieval Latin etymologisare. Intransitive sense from 1650s. Related: Etymologized; etymologizing.
The linguist probably etymologized the words incorrectly
etude
etui
etymological
etymologicon
etymologist
etymologize
etymology
etymon
eu-
*eu-
eubacteria