A new online archive of Civil War letters offers a vivid portrait of the everyday lives of enlisted men. These soldiers lacked formal education so they wrote and spelled by ear. The letters show us how ordinary people spoke then. • Is there a single...
A flea market is a type of bazaar, usually outdoors, where vendors of secondhand and discount goods sell their wares. But why flea market? The term probably reflects the influence of two linguistic strains: In 18th-century New York City, the Fly...
petroliana n.— «That’s spawned a legion of hobbyists who hoard auto-related collectibles. People go crazy over what’s called “petroliana,” service station artifacts like signs, gas pumps and globes, oil cans, car wax tins and road maps.» —“Hershey:...
haji mart n. among American military in Iraq and Afghanistan, a flea market, bazaar, or roadside vendor. Editorial Note: Often capitalized as if it is a proper noun, probably by comparison to American retail chains “Wal-Mart” and “K-Mart.” Usually...