An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. A material object without life or consciousness; an inanimate object.
   

   2. Some entity, object, or creature that is not or cannot be specifically designated or precisely described.
      

   3. Anything that is or may become an object of thought (Dictionary.com).

Etymology (EN): M.E. thing; O.E. þing “meeting, assembly, discussion;” cf. O.Norse þing “assembly, meeting, council;” O.Frisian thing “assembly, action, matter, thing;” O.Saxon thing; O.Du. dinc “law suit, matter, thing;” M.Du. ding; Du. ding; O.Ger. ding, dinc “assembly;” M.H.G. dinc “assembly;” Ger. ding “matter, affairs, thing.” Hence, the word originally meant “assembly, meeting,” then came to mean a specific issue discussed at such an assembly, and finally came to indicate “an object.”

Etymology (PE): Ciz, from Mid.Pers. ciš, tis “thing, affair;” O.Pers. cišciy “anything.”