The painful condition called shingles takes its name from Latin cingulum, meaning belt, because the inflammation often appears as a belt-like band around the torso. The Latin root of cingulum, cingere, meaning “to gird,” is also the source of cinch...
Segal’s Law states, “A man with a watch knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never sure.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Segal’s Law” Have you heard of Seagull’s Law? S-E-G-A...
Can ordinary also mean “crude” or “crass”? This usage was more common in previous generations, but it is still acceptable. It’s also the source of ornery, meaning “combative” or “crotchety.” This...
What’s the source of the phrase “No way, Jose”? And who in the world is Jose? Although in this call Grant says the expression doesn’t show up in print until 1973, he has since found it in a college newspaper in 1966 and no doubt it is probably older...
Crazy crossword clues, Round 3: Cover of the Bible? (2 words). Source of relief? (7 letters). This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Two Crazy Crossword Clues” Martha, here are a couple more crossword clues from crosswordese...
A 2009 article in American Speech by John Considine proposes that blotto, slang for drunk since around World War I, may come from Blotto Frères, a French maker of a three-wheeled delivery vehicle known to be dangerous and erratic. The idea is that...
