Mashed Radish

Mashed Radish

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

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  • The root of “jungle”: It’s a desert out there?

    Today in Georgia’s 6th congressional district, a closely watched “jungle primary” is taking place to fill the seat left by Republican Tom Price, who is now the Secretary of Health and Human Services. In a jungle primary, a more colorful name for a blanket primary, all candidates seeking an office run against each other at Read more.

    John Kelly
    April 18, 2017
    Feature

  • Etymology of the Day: Omelette

    Now that Easter’s passed, what to do with all of those eggs? If they’re not chocolate or hard-boiled, whip up an omelette. You can throw in some mushrooms, peppers, cheese, and perhaps finish it off, etymologically speaking, with just a skosh of…knife? Read more.

    John Kelly
    April 17, 2017
    Etymology of the Day

  • The chaos of “gas”

    We’ve been sick with the word gas lately. First, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad horrifically attacked, not for the first time, his own people with chemical weapons, likely sarin gas. Then, he “fake-newsed” the horrific act by calling it a fabrication. Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer—bizarrely, perversely—told reporters Hitler never gassed his people like Read more.

    John Kelly
    April 14, 2017
    Feature

  • Etymology of the Day: Galoshes

    If it’s raining outside, you might want to put on your “log-feet”—er, galoshes. Good thing we don’t look to etymology for fashion tips. Galoshes English put on the word galosh—which we usually use as galoshes, because footwear comes in pairs—in the late 14th century. Back then, galoshes named a variety of boots and shoes, though Read more.

    John Kelly
    April 13, 2017
    Etymology of the Day

  • Review: The Word Detective by John Simpson

    I’ve often been asked, “You’re the kind of person who likes to read the dictionary, aren’t you?” Well, I’m not just someone who enjoys reading the dictionary. I’m also someone who takes great pleasure in reading books about the dictionary. In this case, it’s John Simpson’s The Word Detective: Searching for the Meaning of It Read more.

    John Kelly
    April 12, 2017
    Review

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