Mashed Radish

Mashed Radish

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

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  • Workplace Word Origins: jargon, milestone, sesquipedalian, benchmark, team

    Workplace Word Origins: jargon, milestone, sesquipedalian, benchmark, team

    Can’t stand jargon? Blame it on the birds! Read more.

    John Kelly
    October 27, 2025
    Workplace Word Origins

  • Newsy etymology, animals edition: frog, bunny, squirrel, blue jay

    Newsy etymology, animals edition: frog, bunny, squirrel, blue jay

    “Bunny” was originally “squirrel,” and “squirrel” was originally … “shadow tail”?! Read more.

    John Kelly
    October 22, 2025
    Feature

  • The bemusing etymological muse of “calliope”

    The bemusing etymological muse of “calliope”

    The calliope makes a music perhaps out of tune with its literal roots. Read more.

    John Kelly
    October 15, 2025
    Feature

  • 2025 Punctuation Mark of the Year

    2025 Punctuation Mark of the Year

    The em dash (—) straddles clauses—and urgent conversations about humanity and technology in 2025. Read more.

    John Kelly
    September 24, 2025
    Feature

  • Workplace Word Origins: engineer, salary, office, freelance, deadline

    Workplace Word Origins: engineer, salary, office, freelance, deadline

    If you’re a freelancer, you’re a mercenary knight—at least etymologically speaking. Read more.

    John Kelly
    September 9, 2025
    Workplace Word Origins

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Mashed Radish

Mashed Radish

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