WORDS

The origin of ‘towhead’ has roots in 14th-century England, when ‘tow’ often referred to textile fibers.

Getting a concept onto the big screen is a difficult process, and the pilot episode is what can make—or, more often, break—a series. By why is it called that?

Geographers and climatologists have a goody bag full of wonderful words that get super specific about wind.

What is a placebo? Technically, a Latin phrase meaning ‘I will please.’ It’s also a Catholic prayer and a clever insult.

It took more than 70 years and tons of volunteer labor to create “the definitive record of the English language”—including an assist from a murderer. Get to know the Oxford English Dictionary better.

Though these words sound like fiddle-faddle, they have specific uses that go beyond yada yada and twittle-twattle.

The word ‘yo’ was around long before Rocky movies and rap songs.

If you were an 18th-century settler in Australia with no knowledge of marsupials, you just might decide to call a koala a ‘bear,’ right?

The origins of the phrase (indirectly) involve smelly cabbage, Donald Duck, and several Canadian journalists.

Nowadays, we use jones to express an intense craving for something. But it used to refer specifically to drugs.

English, the language of Shakespeare and the internet, is often touted for its flexibility and adaptability. But with great flexibility comes great inconsistenc

You can play Dr. Seuss ‘Scrabble’ here or there—you can play it anywhere!