Mental Floss
Mental Floss

WORDS

'Organic' doesn't necessarily mean 'healthy.'

To be certified as organic, farmers can’t use prohibited synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or hormones for three full years before applying. Further, any animals they have must be raised on organic foods.

the mag
Shakespeare is the source of a lot of words.

Shakespeare is the first known citation for over a thousand words and even more meanings—but new research occasionally shows that Shakespeare actually didn't originate some phrases, a trend that will likely continue over time.

Roma Panganiban, Austin Thompson
Now you know.

The abbreviations are widely understood as “morning” and “afternoon,” but what do the Latin translations actually mean?

Ellen Gutoskey
‘Dumpster fire’ is just one slang term to come out of the 2000s.

In the 2000s, the internet took over, as did social media, streaming, and cell phones that were also cameras and tiny computers. The slang of this era didn’t disappoint, either: From amazeballs to mukbang and beyond, here are some terms you might not have

Erin McCarthy
On a cruise ship, the name ‘Oscar’ has a very serious meaning.

Whether they’re said over a PA or in a one-on-one conversation, these seemingly innocuous terms are actually codes to alert those in the know that something is up while keeping others in the dark.

Jane Alexander
Everybunny wants to know why we call rabbits “bunnies.”

When it comes to abbreviations for animal names, doggy for dog makes sense, as does kitty for cat, when you think about it: Kitty comes from the word kitten. But where does bunny for rabbit come from?

Kara Kovalchik
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