English Etymology and a Happy New Year
Anatoly Liberman’s weekly post.
Rare and Medium Rare
Anatoly Liberman discusses the etymology of the word “rare.”
Etymology as a Battlefield: Whitsunday
Anatoly Liberman discusses the etymology of Whitsunday.
Monthly Gleanings: October 2009
Anatoly Liberman responds to readers’ questions and comments.
Clobber, Cobbler, and their Ilk
Anatoly Liberman discovers connections between the origins of the words cobbler and clobber.
British Slang of Jewish Origin (?):
Oof and Fefnicute
Anatoly looks at oof and
Why Skate but Scathe?
Or, The Oddest English Spellings. Part 14
Anatoly looks at spelling reform, specifically at “sk” and “sc”.
The Deceptive Transparency of Compounds
Anatoly Liberman explains the etymology of compound words, notably, blackguard.
A Derailed Myth, or, a Story of the Word Tram
Anatoly Liberman tours the history of the word tram.
The Evasive Yeoman
Oxford Etymologist, Anatoly Liberman, traces the roots of the word “yeomen.”
Seething in Etymological Vacuity (The Story of Theodolite)
Anatoly looks at the word “theodolite”.
Monthly Gleanings: April 2009
Anatoly answers questions.
The Oxford Etymologist Looks at Race, Class and Sex (but not Gender), or, Beating a Willing Horse
Anatoly investigates the origin of the word ‘race.’
On Spoons, Forks, and Knives
Anatoly deliberates the origins of the words ‘spoon,’ ‘fork,’ and ‘knife.’
No Subject is Too Petty for an Etymologist, Or, Pets from North to South
Anatoly explores the origins of the word ‘pet.’
Beating About the Gooseberry Bush
Anatoly explores the origins of the word ‘gooseberry,’ and its related phrases.