On World Porridge Day, humans and bears join over a bowl of spurtle-stirred oatmeal that’s ‘just right’ for the hungry children of the world.
Category: Etymologies and Definitions
Defining ‘Continental’ and ‘Contiguous’
Have you ever bought something that only ships to the continental US? Ever wonder whether that includes Alaska?
Etymology of ‘Cancer’
For everyone born in July, have you ever wondered how you ended up being named after a deadly disease and what the hell cancer has to do with crabs?
Etymology of ‘Cummerbund’
Some people call it a cumberbun. Indians call it a kamarband. But whatever you call the cummerbund, why do we wear it with a tuxedo?
Etymology of ‘Pee Like a Racehorse’
Ever wonder what made the urinary behaviors of racehorses so notorious? Why do we pee like a racehorse? Well it’s got something to do with equine diuretics.
Etymology of ‘Bullshit’
Are bull pies a particularly smelly brand of animal waste or is there something more to bullshit? And what exactly is a factoid?
Etymology of ‘Math’ and ‘Maths’
Americans may say ‘math’ while Brits say ‘maths’, but what the heck is a mathematic?
Etymology of ‘Have Your Cake and Eat It Too’
Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too? Marie Antoinette, Ted “The Unabomber” Kaczynski and grammarians sure don’t.
Tricks, Treats and ‘All Hallow’s Read’
Neil Gaiman asks us to trick a friend with a terrifying tale or treat a child with a spooky story this Hallowe’en.
Etymology of ‘Nice’
‘Nice’ is a compliment we throw at people we don’t know how to describe otherwise. But did you know it comes from French meaning ‘weak, needy and stupid’?