Did you ever wonder why we capitalize the pronoun “I,” but not any other pronoun? Also, the romantic story behind the term halcyon days, the origin of the phrase “like white on rice,” and the linguistic scuttlebutt on the...
Do you know the difference between flotsam and jetsam? In an earlier episode, we discussed flotsam, which we described as the stuff thrown off a sinking ship. But several avid sailors let us know that jetsam’s the stuff thrown overboard, while...
Gradoo, also spelled as gradu, means miscellaneous dirt, sludge, grit, or other gunk you’d rather not step in. Reed in Madison, Wisconsin, grew up hearing it in Louisiana from both English and Cajun French speakers. Its origin is uncertain, but one...
flotsamist n.— «Where and when something reaches shore depends mainly on weight, wind, and currents. Experts can study flotsam—driftwood, in particular—that help them understand ocean currents and weather patterns. Nature also provides...