ETYMOLOGY

Definition Detective Quiz #18

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

Definition Detective Quiz #16

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

Fences have a little something to do with it.

Where Does the Phrase ‘Beyond the Pale’ Come From?

To get to the answer, we need to discuss Latin, wooden stakes, Catherine the Great, and, of course, Shakespeare.

7 Words We Rarely (or Never) Use Without Their Prefixes

Solving the etymological mysteries of 'innocent,' 'disgruntled,' and other prefix-dependent words.

The meaning behind “phony“ has to do with fake jewelry.

Why Does ’Phony’ Mean Fake?

The origins of the term come from the Irish word for “ring.”

Definition Detective Quiz #15

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

Where Does the Term ‘Willy-Nilly’ Come From?

It’s a compressing of an earlier phrase that also yielded variations like ‘nilling, willing’ and ‘william-nilliam.’

Definition Detective Quiz #14

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

11 Words You Might Not Know Are Portmanteaux

Some words, like ‘motel,’ ‘brunch,’ and ‘sitcom,’ are obvious portmanteaux. But the portmanteaux on this list are undercover.

‘Boo’ didn’t originate as a ghostly saying.

Why Do Ghosts Say “Boo”?

If linguistics is any indicator, it would appear that everybody in the spirit realm speaks Scots English.

Why Are Some Liquors Called “Spirits”?

One theory suggests that we call liquor “spirits” because of alcohol’s association with one spirit in particular: the Holy Spirit. But there are other possible origins.

Definition Detective Quiz #8

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

What’s the Origin of the Jack-O’-Lantern?

The first jack-o'-lanterns were made with turnips, not pumpkins.

The Surprising Origins of 5 Spooky Sayings

From ‘skeletons in the closet’ to ‘graveyard shift,’ here’s how five eerie idioms came to be.

The Long, Strange History of the Word ‘Weird’

Where did this bizarre word come from, and how has it changed over the centuries?

The words ‘galaxy’ and ‘lactose’ have a surprising connection.

Linguistic Siblings: 14 Pairs of Words With Surprisingly Shared Etymologies

The connections between words aren’t always as straightforward as the link between ‘run’ and ‘runner’; often, figuring them out requires the subtle unraveling of linguistic evolution, the kind of detective work that makes etymology so fascinating.

You ‘aught’ to know the answer of this question.

Why Do We Call the 2000s “the Aughts”?

Suggestions for what to call the period of time from 2000–2009 ranged from ‘the nillies’ and ‘the oh-ohs’ to ‘the double zeroes’ and ‘the noughties.’ So how’d we land on ‘the aughts’?

Where Does the Word ‘Hoser’ Come From?

As brothers Bob and Doug McKenzie on ‘SCTV,’ actors Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas made ‘hoser’ popular—and there are plenty of theories about the word’s origin.

Why Does ‘Joshing’ Mean “Kidding Around”?

The word dates back to the mid-19th century, and has taken many forms.

The Delicious Origins of 18 Summer Fruit Names

Just as juicy as summer’s many berries, stone fruits, and melons are the far-flung, surprising, and often obscure origins of their names.

We can thank Shakespeare for popularizing it, sort of.

Why Do We Say ‘In a Pickle’?

Contrary to popular belief, Shakespeare wasn’t the one who invented this common idiom. But trying to unravel its origins will land you in a bit of a tricky situation.

We don’t know a lot about where the phrase came from.

What Does the Phrase ‘Keep It Under Your Hat’ Mean?

The phrase has evolved somewhat since its first uses—and its origin is something of a mystery.

A pixelated version of an illustration by Édouard-Henri Avril from the 1824 book ‘De figuris Veneris.’

The Research Error That Gave Us the Phrase ‘Missionary Position’

The origins of the phrase 'missionary position' involve Alfred Kinsey, some shoddy research, and zero actual missionaries.

11 Game Names and Their Fun-Filled Origins

We have many games to while away long days, but where do words like 'poker' and 'hopscotch' come from? Here are the etymological origins of 11 popular games.