Ketchup, catsup, and catchup are all anglicized versions of a Chinese dialect term for a type of fish brine. In the 17th century, British and Dutch traders brought the sauce to Europe, and the name evolved, as did the recipe, which eventually...
Anna in the San Francisco Bay area asks about her family’s pronunciation of measure as /ˈmeɪʒər/, rhyming with hay sure, rather than /ˈmɛʒər/, rhyming with treasure. It’s uncommon, but not unique. Anecdotal reports put it in parts of the Great...
The Fibber McGee drawer is that essential place where you quickly shove a bunch of junk when you need to clean up fast and don’t have the time or care to organize anything. It comes from the old radio comedy, Fibber McGee and Molly, which...