Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast.

This episode gets into the origins of musical instrument names, from the guitar and ukulele to the harmonica, saxophone, drum and more. Learn how the saxophone got its name from its inventor, whose surname, Sax, is locational, tracing to Saxony. The Theremin is another instrument named after its creator. Discover Benjamin Franklin's surprising connection to the word 'harmonica', the...

This episode uncovers etymology related to the pharmaceutical industry. Learn how Ozempic and Tylenol got their names, as well as pharmaceutical giants like Roche and Pfizer. Pfizer, for instance, is an occupational surname rooted in a Latin word meaning "baker". Find out how a male enhancement drug might be named after a Sanskrit word meaning "tiger" or designed to evoke the w...

In this episode, we uncover the origins of words related to the summer season, such as sweltering, holiday, barbecue and scorching. Learn about the dahlia, a flower of the British summer season, named after Swedish botanist Anders Dahl, who shares a surname with the famous author Roald Dahl. The name means "valley" with the English variant being "dale". Discover why the sunscre...

This episode explores the origins and meanings of names popular with royalty. Discover why the nickname of a 10th century Nordic king lives on in the 20th century technology term Bluetooth. Learn how the name Harry, a pet form of Henry, traces back to the French pronunciation during the Middle English period. We also look into the ancient Greek roots of many female royal names such as Catherine, S...

This episode gets into the origins of sleep-related terminology. Starting with how synonyms for sleep such as rest, nap, slumber and ZZZs entered the English language, we explain a theory as to why it's "forty winks" instead of twenty, thirty or fifty. Learn why the Old English word for snore is connected to rooting for someone to win, and why Australians might refer to a duvet as a...

In this episode, we explore the stories behind the names of some of the world's most iconic landmarks and the etymology of the words used. We examine Big Ben, the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Gherkin, Burj Khalifa and more. Also uncovered are the origins and meanings of the names of architects associated with these structures. Discover how a planning per...

This time we're looking into the origins of global corporations, exploring the etymology of their brand names and uncovering snippets of their histories. Some corporate names are derived from everyday words (Microsoft, Apple, Shell) and others from their founders' names (Audi, JP Morgan, Toyota). Learn why a payment provider's name also means travel documentation, and the reason beh...

In this episode we're taking a look at hair terminology, including the etymology behind diverse synonyms for hair, including dreads, mane and tresses. Learn about intriguing connections such as the association between the term "alopecia" and foxes, and the link between pomades and apples. Ever wondered about the origins of the word "shampoo" or the emergence of hair condit...

This episode uncovers various theories behind why and how we use certain non-verbal gestures to communicate, along with the origins of the terms that describe them. Discover the surprising history behind gestures like the high-five, said to be popularised by American baseball, and elbow touching, first suggested by the World Health Organization in 2006. The word smirk, once meant "to smile,&q...

This time we're looking into furniture terminology, from the interchangeably used couch, sofa and settee to futon and hammock, which derive from the languages of their origin. Learn why the history of the dining room sideboard, known as the credenza, is rooted in the fear of food poisoning, and trace the origins of the word chair back to its Ancient Greek roots.

This episode explores the origins and meanings of names beginning with the letter C. Discover surprising connections between the name Charles and the term churlish, both rooted in a Germanic language word. Uncover how a Latin word meaning "hairless" influenced terms like Calvinism and chauvinist, named after historical figures. Explore the origin of the word curt, leading to the name Cou...

In this episode, we get into the history of the Full English Breakfast, a dish that took shape around the 18th century. Explore the etymological origins of its essential components such as sausages, eggs, bacon, black pudding and baked beans. Uncover the intriguing story of why tomatoes were once known as 'love apples'. Additionally, discover the connection between the uses of term &apos...

In this episode, we delve into the world of phobias, uncovering the etymological origins behind words associated with deep-seated fears. Explore the roots of well-known phobias like arachnophobia, acrophobia and claustrophobia, as well as the lesser-known oenophobia, the fear of wine. Additionally, we explore the linguistic origins of glossophobia, an aversion to public speaking, and gymnophobia,...

In this episode, we explore the evolution of family member terminology, unravelling the origins of words such as mother, brother, nephew and cousin in English. Many of these familial designations have undergone significant changes over time; for instance, the term "niece" once referred to a granddaughter. Discover when terms like "co-parent", "glam-ma" (glamorous gran...

This time, we're delving into the origins of famous cocktail drinks and uncovering the intriguing stories behind their names. The Bloody Mary, for instance, is rumoured to be named after a theatre production, while the name Mai Tai is thought to translate to 'good' or 'best'. The term "cocktail" itself has a mysterious origin, with some speculating a connection t...

This episode looks at words of the spring season. The month of March is named after the Roman god of war Mars, and the month of May was once known as 'the month of three milks'. As for the term 'spring clean', various theories exist to explain why this season is so connected to tidying. Delve into the etymological roots of springtime British vegetables like kale and asparagus,...

This episode uncovers the linguistic roots behind words associated with pregnancy and childbirth. For some generations the word pregnant is considered taboo which is why phrases like 'with child' and 'in the family way' emerged. Discover how the placenta's name harks back to an ancient cake, and how the umbilical cord derives its name from the Latin word for 'navel&ap...

In this episode, we delve into the meanings and etymology of names commencing with the letter 'B'. Unravel the intriguing connections as Barbara's roots intertwine with the word 'barbarian', and find out why Bridget is responsible for the term 'old biddy'. Despite their similar sound, Brendan and Brenda boast distinct etymological origins. Additionally explored a...

This episode delves into the origins of sports names, embarking on a journey that begins with the intertwined history of Football, Rugby and Soccer. Explore the linguistic roots behind the names of sports like Pickleball, Tennis and Golf. The equestrian sport of Polo, brought to England by tea planters returning from India, finds its origins in Persia with the ancient game known as Chowgan. Beyond...

This episode delves into the intricate world of stereotypes, uncovering the historical evolution of names such as Karen, Keisha and Chad. Gain an understanding of the stereotypes associated with these names and explore their origins. Trace the linguistic journeys that introduced terms like prejudice, bias and stereotype into the English language. Also explored are the origins of words like bourgeo...

This time we're exploring the language of fine dining. Unravel the linguistic origins behind terms such as "foie gras", where "gras" means fat and traces back to a Latin word which is also the root of the word "grease". Discover the etymology of words like "restaurant", "a la carte", "flambé", and "sous vide", and delve int...

This episode investigates the history of words associated with love and romance. Delve into the theory surrounding the inception of Valentine's Day and uncover the connection between the term 'darling' and the concept of being expensive. Explore the reason why red roses are linked to love, and unravel theories behind the term 'French kiss' for an intimate lip-lock involvin...

In this episode, we explore the intriguing correlation between people's names and their professions. Usain Bolt, the Jamaican sprinter renowned for his speed, aptly carries the surname "Bolt". Weather presenters Amy Freeze and Sara Blizzard have last names that embody the essence of their forecasts, while the founder of a major financial company appropriately bears the surname Fairb...

This time we're looking at the etymological origins of business terms, from the Ancient Greek origins of the words monopoly and duopoly, to the words describing the leader of a business such as 'entrepreneur', 'founder', 'director' and 'boss'. This episode also strips back the word 'company' to the root Latin word for bread and explores the na...

This time, indulge in a delectable episode tracing the name roots of chocolate bars beloved in Britain and America. Discover the fascinating history behind these confectionery delights, learning when they first graced shelves. The Snickers is named after a Mars family horse and its former UK name has ties to a vegetable. This episode also delves into the etymology of Daim, Twix, Lion, and the Amer...