10 April 2012
Protean
When we refer to something as “protean,” we mean that it is always changing or evolving. It’s one of the many words in the English language that derives from Greek mythology.
Proteus was a sea deity who...
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03 January 2012
Posh
While etymologists are not completely certain about the origins of this word, the alleged story behind it is interesting enough to give it a go. It is said that wealthy passengers sailing from England typically had their...
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Where’d it come from? #39
Polka dot Like the Charleston in the 1920s or the Macarena in the 1990s, the polka was the big dance craze of the 1840s in England and America. And merchandisers, as true to form then as they are today, had dollar signs in their eyes. In fact, the polka was so popular that merely attaching its...
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Where’d it come from #38
Where’d It Come From #38 Upper Crust The origin of this phrase is likely rooted in the image of a baked loaf of bread and the portion to which you were entitled based on your social station. Some believe that in the kitchens of the old English manor houses, the golden, crispy top half was reserved for...
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Where’d It Come From #37
Charley horse While no one can prove with certainty the origin of this phrase, most do agree on the fact that it’s distinctly American. The vague consensus points to the game of baseball, and more specifically, pitcher Charles Radbourne as the source. Born in 1854, Radbourne played 12 seasons in the major league, pitching for such...
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Where’d it come from? #35
Mind your own beeswax There are a couple of possible origins for this phrase. One goes back a few hundred years when smallpox epidemics were still pressing concerns. Those lucky enough to survive a bout of the painful pustules would often have scars left on their faces. Women sometimes filled these pock marks with beeswax before...
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Where’d it come from #34
Pulling My Leg In 19th-century England, it was a common ploy in street robberies to trip someone by grabbing their leg, causing them to fall. Once on the ground, the thieves would relieve the hapless pedestrian of his belongings. The phrase is used today in reference to tripping someone mentally or even taunting them with a...
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Where’d It Come From #25
Skinflint In the days before strike matches, flint stones were the most common means of starting a fire. Those with miserly inclinations used these stones until they were as thin as a layer of skin. From that we get the term “skinflint,” which in common usage refers to those who just won’t spend. “I’m too much of...
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Where’d it come from #24
Many of the words covered in “Where’d it come from” have origins in naval and military lingo. Deadline is one of those. During the Civil War, prison camps had rails that ran a specified perimeter. Guards had orders to shoot on sight, and without question or warning, any prisoner who crossed that line (the deadline)....
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Where’d it come from? “Close, but no cigar”
Throughout the first half of the 20th century, cigars were common prizes awarded in games at fairs and...
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