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Recent Posts
- When Native Americans Meet The Finnish – Findians (Finnishinaabe)
- 1.8 bilion years is 60 seconds
- Corn’s Wild Origins: From Grass to Feast
- Corn’s ancestor “teosinte” is a type of wild grass
- A simple branch becomes a fishing rod in the hands of these resourceful chimpanzees. This technique allows them to harvest algae without getting wet.
- Why Did Ancient Women Need Bras? The Evolution of Support
- Venezuelan Poodle Moth – Zoologist Dr. Arthur Anker photographed the insect in the Gran Sabana region of Canaima National Park in Venezuela, 2009
- The world’s oldest bartender, Irvin Koch, runs a bar out of his basement
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Tag Archives: Language
Why is the word “dog” such a mystery? | ANIMAL WORDS
Take a walk on the wild side with Rob and Jess as they explore animal etymologies. 🐻Why were we too scared to give bears a proper name? 🐶Why don’t we know where the word “dog” came from? 👻Which animal is … Continue reading
The Fascinating Origins of the Oxford English Dictionary
Explore the fascinating journey of the English language in our latest video, from the Anglo-Saxon roots to modern-day digital slang! Discover the monumental creation of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) and its role as a linguistic time machine. Learn how … Continue reading
What Exactly Is a ‘Wild Goose Chase’?
By Paul Anthony Jones |Aug 13, 2024 No wild geese were harmed in the making of this idiom. It’s easy to presume that when you describe something as being like a wild goose chase, what you really mean is that … Continue reading
The Dark Histories Behind Your Favorite Scary Words (Interview with Jess Zafarris)
What’s the difference between terror and horror? Why was the word for “bear” so scary that it is lost to history? Jess Zafarris, author of “Words from Hell,” goes through these stories and more in a scary, spooky etymology romp … Continue reading
What mystery did the original “clue” solve? | MYTHOLOGY WORDS
In this episode of Words Unravelled, hosts Rob and Jess dive into the fascinating world of etymology, uncovering the surprising origins of everyday words rooted in ancient mythology. 🔍 Where did the first “clue” lead? ⚡ Which god literally inspires … Continue reading
Do “vegetables” technically exist? | FOOD WORDS
n this episode of Words Unravelled, Rob and Jess explore the delicious origins of our words for foods. They delve into the etymology of “dinner”, “lunch” and all manner of mealtime, and ask whether “vegetables” technically even exist. As usual, … Continue reading