'crossword' originates from English, formed as a compound of 'cross' + 'word' in the early 20th century, influenced by the earlier form 'word-cross'.

'crossword' changed from the earlier form 'word-cross' (used around 1913 by Arthur Wynne) and the hyphenated 'cross-word' into the modern single-word form 'crossword'.

Initially it referred specifically to the 'word-cross' puzzle format introduced in newspapers; over time it became the general term for that type of interlocking-word puzzle, now simply 'crossword'.