What is the origin of etc?

et cetera. also etcetera, early 15c., from Latin et cetera, literally “and the others,” from et “and” + neuter plural of ceterus “the other, other part, that which remains,” from Proto-Italic *ke-etero‑ The common form of the abbreviation before 20c.

What is etc short for?

Et cetera is a Latin phrase. Et means “and.” Cetera means “the rest.” The abbreviation of et cetera is etc. Use etc. when you begin a list that you will not complete; it indicates that there are other items in the list besides the ones you explicitly mention.