etymology - Trivia, Quizzes, and Brain Teasers | Mental Floss

Where Did the Term Lame Duck Originate?

Not a lame duck.

Where Did the Term Lame Duck Originate?

11 Common English Words from Native American Languages

Avocado is the Anglicized version of ahuacatl.

11 Common English Words from Native American Languages

20 Fall Harvest Words and Their Origins

Allie/Unsplash

20 Fall Harvest Words and Their Origins

The Racist Origins of 7 Common Phrases

Rasmus Gundorff Sæderup, Unsplash

The Racist Origins of 7 Common Phrases

Why Do We Call Our Spouse's Relatives 'In-Laws'?

There's no law requiring you to spend every other holiday with your in-laws.

Why Are Common Graves Called Potter’s Fields?

Graves in potter's fields are sometimes marked with blank headstones or crosses.

Why Did Noon Used to Mean 3 p.m.?

3 p.m. is basically noon for people who wake up at 12 p.m.

Why Are Gardeners Said to Have a ‘Green Thumb’?

The phrase 'green thumb' has an interesting history.

21 Phrases You Use Without Realizing You're Quoting William Shakespeare

CSA-Printstock/iStock via Getty Images

The Origins of 62 Last Names

SasinParaksa iStock via Getty Images

How Coronavirus and 31 Other Infectious Diseases and Viruses Got Their Names

Rotavirus—from the Latin rota, for "wheel"—is named for the wheel-like appearance of its particles.

Koalas Aren’t Bears, So Why Do People Call Them ‘Koala Bears’?

Arnaud_Martinez/iStock via Getty Images

New Research Shows That the Word Leprechaun Has Latin Roots

Tim Boyle/Newsmakers

The Reason Why Americans Refer to Autumn as Fall

alex_ugalek/iStock via Getty Images

The Origins Behind 30 Harry Potter Words and Spells

Mental Floss via YouTube

Meet the Two Women Who Give Prescription Drugs Their Generic Names

bong hyunjung/iStock via Getty Images