Words for “mother” begin with the letter M in many languages, but not all of them. The reason has to do with the physiology of infant vocalization. Among the first sounds babies make are bilabial sounds with an open vowel, the lips...
Need an Old English word for “sneeze”? How about fnēosung? This is part of a complete episode.
“Scat, Tom! Get your tail out of the gravy!” In some parts of the country, especially the South, people say this after someone sneezes. But what does a cat warming its tail in the gravy boat have to do with sneezing? This is part of a...
zeitgeber n.— «No reference is made to diurnal activity, Orstreue, Zeitgeber, and other terms of the last thirty years.» —“Biology and Comparative Physiology of Birds” by Miklos D. F. Udvardy American Midland...