Mashed Radish

Mashed Radish

Etymology at the intersection of news, life, and everyday language.

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  • A simple “yes” or “no”? Nope. Not etymologically.

    A simple “yes” or “no”? Nope. Not etymologically.

    The origins of the words “yes” and “no” are knotty—and “naughty.” Read more.

    John Kelly
    December 12, 2025
    Feature

  • Workplace Word Origins: Black Friday, chef, boutique

    Workplace Word Origins: Black Friday, chef, boutique

    Philadelphia traffic jams, Greek storehouses, and Latin heads. Read more.

    John Kelly
    November 28, 2025
    Workplace Word Origins

  • My bad French makes for good etymology: the origin of “oui”

    My bad French makes for good etymology: the origin of “oui”

    What begins as a Latin demonstrative pronoun becomes an expression of Frenchness. Read more.

    John Kelly
    November 25, 2025
    Feature

  • “Literature’s hand luggage”: wit and wisdom in James Geary’s “The World in a Phrase: A Brief History of the Aphorism”

    “Literature’s hand luggage”: wit and wisdom in James Geary’s “The World in a Phrase: A Brief History of the Aphorism”

    A definitive—and delightful—handbook to the hard-to-define aphorism. Read more.

    John Kelly
    November 7, 2025
    Review

  • The 2025 Etymology of the Year

    The 2025 Etymology of the Year

    “Fascism” is a challenging word for a challenging moment, and its origins may bear lessons for us. Read more.

    John Kelly
    November 4, 2025
    Etymology of the Year

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Mashed Radish

Mashed Radish

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© John Kelly 2024

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