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Mashed Radish

Mashed Radish

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

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  • United Airlines might learn a thing or two from the origin of “accommodate”

    United Airlines is under fire after guards violently dragged a passenger from a flight the airline overbooked on Monday. Its CEO, Oscar Munoz, only made matters worse when he apologized for “having to re-accommodate these customers.” United is clearly making up its own, all-too-self-accommodating definition of accommodate. So, let’s help them out: The history and… Read more.

    John Kelly
    April 11, 2017
    Feature

  • Etymology of the Day: Caddie

    After a career chasing a major, Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia swung his way back to clinch the Masters Tournament on Sunday. When he sank his winning putt, Garcia warmly acknowledged his final contender, Justin Rose, and his caddie, before embracing his own, Glen Murray. For as they say, behind every great golfer is a caddie.… Read more.

    John Kelly
    April 10, 2017
    Etymology of the Day

  • Pepsi, Gibraltar, and other names in the news

    From soda ads to ancient military strongholds, this week featured many newsworthy names.  Let’s have a look at a few—and, as always, their origins. Read more.

    John Kelly
    April 7, 2017
    Feature

  • Etymology of the Day: Chauffeur

    Do chauffeurs ever chafe at—or from—the long days spent behind the steering wheel? Etymologically they do, at least. Read more.

    John Kelly
    April 6, 2017
    Etymology of the Day

  • The many folds of “complicit”

    After Ivanka Trump told CBS that “I don’t know what it means to be complicit,” Merriam-Webster helped her out with its definition: “Helping to commit a crime or do wrong in some way.” The dictionary, whose lexicographical sick burns have been lighting up Twitter, observed that complicit also trended back in March, used by Saturday… Read more.

    John Kelly
    April 5, 2017
    Feature

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