Tag: etymology

• The etymological “plea” of “please”

  One of the most moving responses to Parkland, Florida, site of just latest mass school shooting in the US, has been a single word: please. David Hogg, 17-year-old survivor of the massacre at his high school, has emerged as a forceful voice of a burgeoning youth movement for gun reform. Speaking to CNN, Hogg exhorted:…

  John Kelly

  February 20, 2018

  Feature

• The official etymologies of the PyeongChang 2018™ Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games

  It’s Mardi Gras, or the “dense, shiny meat removal,” as I’ve etymologized in the past. I trust many observers people won’t be giving up TV for Lent, what with the Winter Olympics going on. Speaking of the Olympics, ski down some archives with my old posts from the 2014 competition in Sochi, Russia. I explored…

  John Kelly

  February 13, 2018

  Feature

• Yes, the “dress” in “address” is what you think it is.

  President Trump delivers his first State of the Union address tonight. Let’s briefly address the etymology of this term for a “formal speech.”

  John Kelly

  January 31, 2018

  Feature

• The riveting origins of “rivet”

  In 1942, Pittsburgh artist J. Howard Miller created one of the iconic images of World War II, of feminism, of America itself. On a bright yellow background with bold white letters proclaiming “We Can Do It!”, his poster boasts a woman flexing her bicep in a blue uniform and red polka-bot bandana. She was inspired by…

  John Kelly

  January 27, 2018

  Feature

• An etymological slice of “pie”

  It’s National Pie Day, according to the internet powers that be. Well, we have to treat ourselves to just a little etymological slice of pie, don’t we?

  John Kelly

  January 23, 2018

  Feature