word history

Lady

Niall O'Donnell 1 Comment

I’m often curious about the word lady. Especially the fact that sometimes it’s Lady. Continue reading →

Kangaroo Words

Niall O'Donnell 4 Comments

I learned recently about the existence of kangaroo words: words that contain the letters of a synonymous word (in the correct sequence) within themselves. Continue reading →

Jogging

Niall O'Donnell 5 Comments

I heard this word today, and I realised how strange it sounds. Especially when you could also say running. And I continued thinking: does jogging, the exercise, have anything to do with jogging your memory? Let’s see. Continue reading →

…And Called it Macaroni

Niall O'Donnell 1 Comment

You might know the song “Yankee Doodle,” even if you’re not American. One line might sound a little strange to you:

Stuck a feather in his cap, and called it macaroni.

Why macaroni? Continue reading →

Third-World Problems

Niall O'Donnell 7 Comments

I was reminded today of the term Third World. It was quite commonly used when I was a child, basically synonymous with developing world. I remember occasionally wondering as a child why we used the term (there’s only one world!), but it also feeling like it made sense. I think I was somewhen in my teens when I learned the answer.

Continue reading →

It’s Treason Then

Niall O'Donnell 1 Comment

Without getting too political, I’ll just say that this word has been in the news quite a bit today. After seeing it a few times, I began to wonder if there perhaps were an interesting story behind it.

And of course there is! Continue reading →

Canteen

Niall O'Donnell 2 Comments

Writing about the word magazine yesterday made me think of another word with a similar range of meanings: canteen. Continue reading →