The Etymology Thread!

[Rachael98]

Wow! I never knew that. I love etymology.

Well, guess what people? I love etymology too! So I created a thread on it (that's the one you're reading now).
So, share all your interesting etymology facts here!
Also, in true Rachael98-OT Style, I'm adding a poll.

[MiniLaura]

My favorite unit of measure (now even used in Google Earth!):
the smoot
www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2011/10/05/141009438/whats-a-smoot#more

I actually looked this up today for another person before this thread came up just to make sure that I knew the etymology:
Kinnearing!
https://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archiv...innearing.html
https://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archiv...real_word.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/23/we...n&pagewanted=2

And a lovely song for you (but a lot of these are pretty well known):

[Rachael98]

I love that song...
OK, bonus question:

-If Rachael98 beve a noun, what'd it mean?

[Rachael98]

Try again-.-...

I love that song...
OK, bonus question:

-If Rachael98 became a noun, what'd it mean?

[missstep13]

HA portmanteau or portmanteau word is a blend of two (or more) words or morphemes into one new word. A portmanteau word typically combines both sounds and meanings, as in smog, coined by blending smoke and fog. More generally, it may refer to any term or phrase that combines two or more meanings.

The word "portmanteau" was first used in this sense by Lewis Carroll in the book Through the Looking-Glass (1871), in which Humpty Dumpty explains to Alice the coinage of the unusual words in Jabberwocky, where "slithy" means "lithe and slimy" and "mimsy" is "flimsy and miserable". Humpty Dumpty explains the practice of combining words in various ways by telling Alice, 'You see it's like a portmanteau --there are two meanings packed up into one word.'

The word "portmanteau" itself was converted by Carroll to describe the concept. "Portmanteau" comes from French porter, to carry + manteau, cloak (from Old French mantel, from Latin mantellum). In then-contemporary English, a portmanteau was a suitcase.

[Hawaiianmomma]

Try again-.-...


Wu Wei Daoist


Not a disciplined reply to the thread but it what I have always thought of you.....in a good way even when waving rulers about...

[Rachael98]


Wu Wei Daoist


Not a disciplined reply to the thread but it what I have always thought of you.....in a good way even when waving rulers about...

:/ The "-.-" was referring to my own typographical error!

These things are so interesting.

[Rachael98]


Wu Wei Daoist


Not a disciplined reply to the thread but it what I have always thought of you.....in a good way even when waving rulers about...

Oh, hold on a second; that was what Rachael98 would mean, wasn't it?

[Hawaiianmomma]

yes...your jumping the *** like I did yesterday...lol

[Hawaiianmomma]

It is a Very Good Thing Rachael not Bad