folk etymology

glass of whisky on wooden table
Did the Phrase ‘a Shot of Whiskey’ Originate in the Old West?
  • 14 October 2017
Anecdotal reports say the expression "a shot of whiskey" came into being when cowboys traded...
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A small gun on a table.
Etymology of Son of a Gun
  • 7 September 2002
The disputed etymology of 'son of a gun.'
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What Does Pumpernickel Mean?
  • 20 May 2001
Is pumpernickel bread named after a horse? Does it translate to 'devil's fart'? So many...
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Etymology of ‘Shit’
  • 13 August 2002
Was 'shit' formed from an acronym of 'Ship High in Transit'?
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Etymology of 86
  • 10 March 2009
Did the term '86' (to get rid of someone or something) enter the English language...
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Etymology of Strawberry
  • 5 October 2003
Are strawberries so named because they are bedded in straw?
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