'ethnography' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'ethnos' and 'graphein', where 'ethnos' meant 'people, nation' and 'graphein' meant 'to write'.

'ethnography' entered English in the 19th century via French 'ethnographie' and Modern Latin 'ethnographia', ultimately derived from Greek.

Initially it meant 'writing about peoples' (a descriptive account); over time it has come to denote both the descriptive account and the academic method/discipline of studying cultures (especially through fieldwork).