The Curious Origin of the Words ‘Child’ and ‘Children’

 

By Dr Oliver Tearle

The words ‘child’ and ‘children’ have had an interesting history. Although we can all easily define ‘child’ now – a young person who had not yet attained adulthood – this definition in itself raises some intriguing questions. Legally, a ‘child’ may be someone under sixteen years of age, or someone under eighteen years of age, depending on the country or context; or some other marker or boundary between ‘childhood’ and ‘adulthood’ may be given. Continue reading “The Curious Origin of the Words ‘Child’ and ‘Children’”

The Curious Origin of the Word ‘Mayonnaise’

 

By Dr Oliver Tearle

Where does the word mayonnaise come from? Many people will confidently say they know the answer, but perhaps the matter is a little more complex – and a little more interesting – than is widely believed.

Before we delve into the origin of the word ‘mayonnaise’, then, let’s make it a multiple-choice quiz question.

Where does the word ‘mayonnaise’ come from? Continue reading “The Curious Origin of the Word ‘Mayonnaise’”

The Curious Origin of the Word ‘Slithy’

 

By Dr Oliver Tearle

Anyone who loves nonsense literature can surely tell us the origins of the rather wonderful word ‘slithy’. But let’s make it a little more interesting and turn it into a multiple-choice quiz question. Who gave us the word ‘slithy’?

a) A man named Shakespeare
b) A man named Whately
c) A man named Lear
d) A man named Carroll Continue reading “The Curious Origin of the Word ‘Slithy’”