Wordplay: Origins, Meanings, and Usage of the English LanguageFolk etymology, that charming process of word formation that substitutes a familiar sound or idea for an archaic one ('rod-iron' for wrought iron), has worked overtime in our fields, forests, and gardens. Samuel Johnson and a lot of others thought gooseberry derived naturally from the fact that its sauce commonly accompanied a roast goose; later etymologists discovered that it earlier had been called a groseberry, after the French groseille, and that there was nothing anserine in its background except wishful tinkering. Similarly, asparagus was, and often still is, called 'sparrow-grass', and for nearly two centuries the cucumber bore the bovine name of 'cowcumber'... The dandelion is a straightforward phonetic rendition of French dent de lion, or 'lion's tooth.' It's curious that, while we borrowed a French expression based on the weed's appearance, the French settled for a name related to quite another characteristic. The French word is pissenlit, which reflects the diuretic properties of the dandelion roots that used to be dried, ground up, and mixed with coffee. In fact, pisse-abed is given as an English alternative by John Gerarde in his 1597 Herball, or General Historie of Plants, and pissabed salad, containing dandelion greens, was once popular in the United States. |
Contents
Okeydokey heres a real hodgepodge | 10 |
All at sea with a red herring | 25 |
ard lines | 40 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
added adjective alternative American ancient appeared apple applied associated became become began beginning Bible called century column comes common course denoted derived describe developed Dictionary early edition England English word eventually example expression fact figurative French German give Globe going Greek hand head human it's Italy John known language late later Latin least less letters London look meaning meant mention metaphor Middle naturally noted noun Old English once originally Oxford perhaps person phrase Play plural popular present Press probably published question reader reason recent reference root seems sense short side singular someone sometimes speak spelling spring story sure synonym term there's things thought Toronto turn University usually verb write wrote