Early 17th century; earliest use found in Ben Jonson (?1573–1637), poet and playwright. From Hellenistic Greek περιήγησις the action of leading about as a guide, a description such as that given by a guide, especially in work titles, already in ancient Greek denoting an outline from ancient Greek περι- + Hellenistic Greek ἥγησις leading, after ancient Greek περιηγεῖσθαι to lead round.