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Why does “pygmy” mean “small”?
Pygmy is a “small” word whose etymology packs a mighty punch.View post to subscribe to the site’s newsletter. Read more.
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Newsy etymology: shogun, Tupperware, Secret Service, and interest rate
Feudal Japan. Proprietary plastic. Counterfeit money. Latin verbs counterfeiting as English nouns. This roundup of words in the news features etymologies as assorted as a Tupperware set.View post to subscribe to the site’s newsletter. Read more.
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Breaking down the origin of “fracking”
What starts with geoengineering jargon ends with Ancient Greek musical instruments. Read more.
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What’s behind the word “voice”?
The word “voice” comes from the Latin “vox,” a root that has given voice to many other words in English, as we will see in this very “vocal” etymology. Read more.
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Why is it called “polio”?
Instances of polio today are appalling—and that word is a clue to the history and origin of why polio is called “polio.” Read more.
Mashed Radish 