Tag: word origins
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diet
Atkins, Paleo, Flexitarian? If you want to find a diet that works, try etymology. Diet The word diet* is no trend. The Oxford English Dictionary attests the word as early as 1230 in a monastic manual. Even then, the term referred to food, particularly those victuals “in daily use” and “in relation to their quality and effects” (OED). But in 1460,…
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new
The word origins we encounter on this blog are compelling for a variety of reasons, I think. Oftentimes, an etymology takes us to some surprising places, like candy. Other times, it tells a fascinating story, such as turkey. With a word like new, though, I am struck by the word’s sheer durability. So, to bring in this New…
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twelve words of Christmas
I am excited to share another guest post I’ve composed for Oxford Dictionaries’ OxfordWords blog. The post, “Twelve Words of Christmas,” delivers some choice yuletide etymologies, turning up “fame-wolves” and “broken wind” and everything in between. Be sure to check it out–and enjoy the holidays. m ∫ r ∫
Mashed Radish 