Mashed Radish

The riveting origins of “rivet”

In 1942, Pittsburgh artist J. Howard Miller created one of the iconic images of World War II, of feminism, of America itself. On a bright yellow background with bold white letters proclaiming “We Can Do It!”, his poster boasts a woman flexing her bicep in a blue uniform and red polka-bot bandana. She was inspired by Read more.

John Kelly

January 27, 2018

Feature
An etymological slice of “pie”

It’s National Pie Day, according to the internet powers that be. Well, we have to treat ourselves to just a little etymological slice of pie, don’t we? Read more.

John Kelly

January 23, 2018

Feature
On “shutdowns” and “furloughs”

As the federal government faces a partial shutdown, employees will be placed on furlough. Etymology, though, never stops working, so let’s have a brief look at the origin of these terminating terms. Read more.

John Kelly

January 20, 2018

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Some etymological musings on “milkshake duck”

The Macquarie Dictionary of Australian English announced this week that it chose milkshake duck as its 2017 Word of the Year. As it defines the term, a milkshake duck is a person who is initially viewed positively by the media but it then discovered to have something questionable about them which causes a sharp decline Read more.

John Kelly

January 16, 2018

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Rounding up some remarks on some profane presidential remarks

From the New York Times (strong language ahead): President Trump on Thursday balked at an immigration deal that would include protections for people from Haiti and some nations in Africa, demanding to know at a White House meeting why he should accept immigrants from “shithole countries” rather than from places like Norway, according to people Read more.

John Kelly

January 12, 2018

Feature

The riveting origins of “rivet”

An etymological slice of “pie”

On “shutdowns” and “furloughs”

Some etymological musings on “milkshake duck”

Rounding up some remarks on some profane presidential remarks