Tag: Olympics
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Timely etymology: Debby, monopoly, waltz, and breaking
Bees. Books. Beats. Viennese dance crazes. German journeymen. This etymological news roundup has it all.
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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…
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“Medal”: worth more than its weight in etymology
We’ve witnessed some history-making medals at Rio 2016. Fiji won their first ever medal – the gold – in rugby. Simone Manuel became the first black woman to take gold in an individual swimming event. And Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, has added to the distinction, now with 22 career golds.…
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The contested origin of “game”
Let the games begin! No, the quadrennial contest we call the US presidential election has long been underway. That other event occurring every four years, the summer Olympic Games, officially kicks off tonight in Rio de Janeiro. As the games begin, where does “game” begin? Game English has long been playing games. The word is…
Mashed Radish 