Mashed Radish

The “Bureau” of Etymological Investigation

A week out, Donald Trump’s firing of James Comey, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), has only raised more questions than it answers. In the meantime, let’s put the word bureau under an etymological investigation. Read more.

John Kelly

May 16, 2017

Feature
‘Ditto,’ ‘skirmish,’ ‘zany’ and other words with surprising Italian roots

The passage of the Republican bill in the House to repeal Obamacare tees up a skirmish in the Senate—oh, allow me to put aside the newsy connections today, as urgent as the issue is. I’m off to Italy for a week or so. Italian has given English a wealth of words for music (allegro, falsetto,… Read more.

John Kelly

May 5, 2017

Feature
Cheeky hogwash? The origin of “swashbuckler”

In a rather imaginative assessment of the Civil War during an interview with Salena Zito of the Washington Examiner, President Trump called Andrew Jackson a “swashbuckler” who could have avoided the American Civil War. Putting aside Trump’s grasp of American history, let’s get a firmer grasp on the history of his colorful word, swashbuckler. Read more.

John Kelly

May 2, 2017

Feature
Keeping the US Government open, etymology edition

After some last-minute budget negotiations on Thursday, it looks like the US Congress will avert a shutdown and fund the government—at least until they come up to the next brink. Let’s negotiate the origins of these words in a Friday etymological news roundup: Read more.

John Kelly

April 28, 2017

Feature
Etymology of the Day: Thousand

In the previous post, we learned hundred literally means “count of 100.” How about the next multiple of ten up the scale, thousand? Read more.

John Kelly

April 26, 2017

Etymology of the Day

The “Bureau” of Etymological Investigation

‘Ditto,’ ‘skirmish,’ ‘zany’ and other words with surprising Italian roots

Cheeky hogwash? The origin of “swashbuckler”

Keeping the US Government open, etymology edition

Etymology of the Day: Thousand