Mashed Radish

Mashed Radish

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

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  • Go Tribe!

    The Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs face off in Game 6 of the World Series tonight. As I grew up in Ohio, and as my family hails from Cleveland, I’m rooting for the Indians to bring in their first championship since 1948. Speaking of tribe (and putting aside the team’s racially controversial mascot), where does Read more.

    John Kelly
    November 1, 2016
    Uncategorized

  • “Musket”: the hawkish language of a gadfly?

    Former Congressman Joe Walsh caused a stir (and probably a visit from the Secret Service) after he tweeted he’ll be grabbing his “musket” if Donald Trump loses the election. He added, “You in?” Walsh claimed he wasn’t calling for an armed revolution but just using musket as a symbol of protest. Either way, Walsh’s words Read more.

    John Kelly
    October 28, 2016
    Uncategorized

  • It’s like comparing apples to…pumpkins?

    Autumn means pumpkins. They sit atop our porch steps and grace our desks in miniature. Pumpkin pies cool on our windows sills. Pumpkin-shaped candies overstuff our grocery shelves. Pumpkin spice flavors our lattes – and just about everything else marketers can get their hands on. Let’s carve into this word pumpkin and scoop out all Read more.

    John Kelly
    October 25, 2016
    Uncategorized

  • A “nasty” little etymology

    In the third and final presidential debate last night, Donald Trump – amid his yet more shocking refusal to say whether he’ll accept the election results – called Hillary Clinton “a nasty woman.” Nasty can be such a nasty word. Where does it come from? Nasty Nasty starts “fouling” up the English language in the 14th Read more.

    John Kelly
    October 20, 2016
    Uncategorized

  • Behind the etymological mask of “clown”

    The creepy crown craze – involving people dressed up as evil clowns frightening, threatening, and sometimes even attacking others – has spread from South Carolina all across the globe. But what about this word clown: Where did it spread from? Clown The word clown hasn’t been terrorizing the English language for as long as we Read more.

    John Kelly
    October 18, 2016
    Uncategorized

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Mashed Radish

Mashed Radish

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