Category: Feature

• Lions, chameleons, and shih-tzus, oh my!: 12 “lion” etymologies

  “Liger” is much older than you think. “Tigon” is even older.

  John Kelly

  August 10, 2017

  Feature

• 10 Catty Etymologies for International Cat Day

  From German hangovers to Iraqi silks, the English language loves its cats.

  John Kelly

  August 8, 2017

  Feature

• From textiles to testimonies: the origin of “panel”

  A panel of jurors was originally a piece of paper on which the names of jurors were listed.  Last night, we learned Special Counsel Robert Mueller has impaneled a grand jury—which allows prosecutors to subpoena documents and ensures witnesses testify under oath—in his investigation into potential ties between Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and Russia. In…

  John Kelly

  August 4, 2017

  Feature

• How we got “sacked”

  Yes, getting sacked does originally involve bags.  Just ten days into his new role as White House Communications Director, Anthony “the Mooch” Scaramucci was sacked, as a number of British headlines having been putting his firing while General John Kelly takes over as Trump’s Chief of Staff. Where does this expression, getting sacked, come from?

  John Kelly

  August 1, 2017

  Feature

• It’s time for another Friday etymological news roundup

  We had a lot of interesting words in the news this week (some more polite than others). Here’s a news review with—what else?—an etymological twist. 

  John Kelly

  July 28, 2017

  Feature