Archive for the 'Oxford Etymologist' Category

Snob Before and After Thackeray

Anatoly seeks the origin of “snob”.

The Eternal Fascination of OK

Anatoly explores the history of OK.

The Oddest English Spellings, or,
Thinking of O. With My Compliments to the Conference of the Spelling Society in Coventry, UK.

Anatoly explores the history of spelling with the letter w.

Not All That is Paltry is Trivial, Being a Story of Raggedy-Assed Things and of Several Migratory Rags

Anatoly wonders why we double up on names in certain words.

Women Who Walk Heavily or Too Much

By Anatoly Liberman
In olden days women were supposed to be sweet, docile, and, if possible, incorporeal. On the other hand, men, subject to the universal law of contrasts, threw their weight about, and, once they “arrived,” demonstrated corpulence. They invented countless offensive words referring to women’s way of walking.

Still in the Bottleneck, or, Chasing for the First Fiasco

Anatoly examines the origin of the word fiasco.

How the Protocharlatan Escaped Justice

Anatoly explores deeper into charlatan’s history.

Monthly Gleanings

Anatoly answers questions posed in March.

Some Words Have A Reputation To Live Up To

Anatoly discusses the origin of charade.

Wild Honey With and Without Locusts, or, The Inconclusive History of the Word Honeymoon

Anatoly searches for the origin of honeymoon.

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