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Lions, chameleons, and shih-tzus, oh my!: 12 “lion” etymologies
“Liger” is much older than you think. “Tigon” is even older. Read more.
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Launch: Etymology of the Day
Via French lancher/lancier, launch ultimately comes from the Latin lancea, a “light spear,” which is also the source of lance (except we’re not using spears anymore…). The verb, first attested in the early 1400s, shifted from “hurl” to “send off,” hence boats and, much more scarily, missiles. m ∫ r ∫ Read more.
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10 Catty Etymologies for International Cat Day
From German hangovers to Iraqi silks, the English language loves its cats. Read more.
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Spurious: Etymology of the Day
Spurious, now meaning “false,” originally described children born out of wedlock—or, more crudely, bastards. It comes from the Latin spurius, an “illegitimate child,” itself possibly of Etruscan origin. The ancient Romans also commonly used Spurius as a given name for such offspring. m ∫ r ∫ Read more.
Mashed Radish 