Wordplay

Word History

The History Behind 8 Halloween Words

These words haunt us

15 Words That Used to Mean Something Different

Including the secret history of 'secretary'

Funner, Stupider, and Other Words That Are in Fact Real

Don't argue with the dictionary

10 Words from Place Names

Bikini, bourbon, and badminton were places first

The Secret Histories of 'Catastrophe,' 'Debacle,' and More

'Tragedy' didn't always mean "disaster"

Why do we call it 'ides of March'?

And should we beware?

10 'Rude' Words From Old Etiquette Guides

Rule 1, never say 'thanks'

Why do we say 'make a beeline'?

Yes, it does involve bees

When do we paint the town red?

It may have begun with a literal paint job (but probably didn’t)

Older Than They Look: 'Hipster,' 'Ghosting,' and More

They may sound new, but words like 'hipster', 'rap', and 'ginormous' have a surprisingly long history.

Surprising Words from the 1920s

Robots, "Atom Bombs," and "Rocket Ships" Were All Born in the Jazz Age

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

Heads up: one is 'vulgar'

Why do we say 'get out of Dodge'?

It refers to a real place

'Handsome,' 'Geek,' and 8 More Words That Changed Their Meanings

Language evolves

Where does 'hello' come from?

Don't answer the phone with 'ahoy'

Does 'incredible' mean 'not credible'?

It did, once.

Why do we quit 'cold turkey'?

Explaining A Common Phrase That Makes No Sense

13 New Words for Old Things

When did 'mail' become 'snail mail'?

What Does 'QR Code' Stand For?

Not all abbreviations are as complex as they seem.

The Origins of Daredevil

Hint: they've been around for a while

12 Words Whose History Will Surprise You

They all use this one weird trick (etymology)

What's so 'civil' about 'civil war'?

A note on extended meanings

10 Unpleasant People Whose Names Became Words

Not all publicity is good
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