Tag: word origins
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The many-layered etymology of “onion”
Etymologically speaking, an “onion” is a “union,” which is also a … “pearl”?
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Where does the word “spooky” come from?
The word “spooky” may be haunted by an elusive etymology, but its earliest known use is decidedly comic.
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Out of the etymological gourd: Why do we call them “gourds”?
Words, gourds, marriages. Perfect in, perfect for their imperfections.
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Newsy etymology: shogun, Tupperware, Secret Service, and interest rate
Feudal Japan. Proprietary plastic. Counterfeit money. Latin verbs counterfeiting as English nouns. This roundup of words in the news features etymologies as assorted as a Tupperware set.
Mashed Radish 