BL, main floor, reference area. Biobase and Contemporary Authors provide background information and sources for twentieth century writers, whether scientists or not. Oxford English Dictionary . BL, main floor, reference area. The Oxford English Dictionary defines usages historically, with dates and excerpts from period works.
Bold sources are of most general interest.
Disciplinary histories are given below. Brooke, John Hedley. Cambridge History of Science Series. Cambridge University Press, 1991. Brush, Stephen G., ed.