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etymology

The History of Golliwogs and Why They're Considered Racist

Written by:
Nur Ibrahim
Apr 20, 2023 The golliwog made headlines in April 2023 after an Essex property owner displayed the dolls at h ...
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What Is the History of the Middle Finger?

What Is the History of the Middle Finger?

Written by:
David Mikkelson
Sep 29, 1999 The 'middle finger salute' did not derive from the defiant gestures of English archers whose fin ...
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Etymology of 'Tag'

Written by:
David Emery
Jul 19, 2018 How factual is the claim that the name of the children's game "tag" originated as the acronym of ...
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Is 'Snowflake' a Nazi Term for the Remains of Cremated Victims?

Written by:
Dan Evon
Jan 23, 2017 A persistent rumor holds that the term "snowflake" originated during the Holocaust, but no evide ...
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Bowl of guacamole surrounded by avocados.

Does the Word 'Guacamole' Mean 'Testicle Sauce'?

Written by:
Brooke Binkowski
Feb 8, 2016 Both "avocado" and "guacamole" derive from the Nahuatl word for the fruit, which only secondaril ...
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dictionary

Did the Word 'Swag' Originate as an Acronym?

Written by:
David Mikkelson
Sep 25, 2012 According to rumors the word 'swag' carried a clandestine message.
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cat bag

What's the Origin of 'Letting the Cat Out of the Bag'?

Written by:
Barbara Mikkelson
Aug 7, 2010 There is nothing obvious about why a cat's being released from a bag has anything to do with tru ...
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Etymology of 86

Written by:
Barbara Mikkelson
Mar 9, 2009 Did the term '86' (to get rid of someone or something) enter the English language as part of a r ...
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What Does Pumpernickel Mean?

Written by:
David Mikkelson
May 19, 2001 Is pumpernickel bread named after a horse? Does it translate to 'devil's fart'? So many breadcru ...
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Nylon (polyhexamethyleneadipamide) was invented in 1935 by an organic chemist under contract to DuPont.

Did 'Nylon' Get Its Name By Conflating the Words 'New York' and 'London'?

Written by:
Barbara Mikkelson
Mar 26, 2001 Nylon stockings hit the market in 1939, after being introduced at the New York World's Fair.
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Etymology of the F-Word

Written by:
Barbara Mikkelson David Mikkelson
Jul 12, 1999 Did the word "fuck" originate as an acronym of the phrase "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge"?
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