Tag: English
-
Etymology of the Day: Heyday
Back in my heyday, we’ve heard our fathers so often begin some boast of long-lost glory. The heyday of the train, the heyday of radio, the heyday of the flip-phone – each of these remembers some technological golden age of yore. Perhaps you’ve wondered: What is the hey– in heyday? As it turns out, we’re…
-
Etymology of the Day: Skosh
“Some more coffee?” “Just a skosh more, please.” “These brownies are so delicious!” “I add a skosh of cayenne pepper to the batter.” Skosh is a fun and informal term for a small amount or a little, but its origins are mighty surprising. .
-
Who knew the word “insurance” was so complicated?
Insurance ultimately comes from the Latin securus, “free from care.” Health insurance was front and center this week as Speaker of the House Paul Ryan debuted his contentious plan to repeal Obamacare. As Washington continues to deal with the political complexities of health insurance, let’s deal with the etymological complexities of the word insurance.
-
A country, a hat, a palindrome – “Panama”!
What do rum and capybaras have in common? Why, the origin of “Panama.”
Mashed Radish 