Etymology
BALD CHAUVINISTS
When I think of the word chauvinism, I immediately associate it with sexism, although it can also refer to biased support for any group. Historically, it was linked to…
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Latest Etymology
OH, LITTLE ARROW
The expression ay, caramba is a Spanish exclamation that denotes surprise, famously used by Bart in The Simpsons. The…
SIXTH HOUR
The term siesta was first recorded in 1655 with the same meaning and spelling as it is used today. It…
STARBO
On the Starbucks website, it says that the name of their company was inspired by Starbuck, the First Mate…
RECRUITMENT CREW
The contemporary meaning of the term crew first appeared in English in 1578 as crewe (an earlier variation was crue).…
THE STAIN
Manchego cheese, one of my personal favorites, derives its name from La Mancha, a region in south-central Spain known…
TO SMOKE THROUGH
Recently, I came across the term perfumigate, a clever blend of perfume and fumigate> (Urban Dictionary defines it as…
TO MOLD DOUGH
When we delve into the etymology of the word dough, we uncover a fascinating history. Its origins can be…
The Grammarphobia Blog: Playing the etymology card
Q: How did the word “card” end up in expressions like “play the race card” and “play the gender card”?…