Where does the phrase "It was not there to protect me from you. It was there to protect you from me" come from? [more inside]
posted by seanyboy on Oct 30, 2009 - 9 answers

Where's Cissylvania? [more inside]
posted by madcaptenor on Oct 26, 2009 - 15 answers

How can I add an etymology reference/resource to Apple's Dictionary.app? [more inside]
posted by jofuu on Oct 8, 2009 - 3 answers

Help me track down the meaning of a surname. The name is "Naftzger." It seems to be a Germanic (if not German) word for an occupation (e.g. "Metzger" means "butcher"). But what occupation? What does the "Naf" mean? Bonus points for information on region of origin.
posted by reverend cuttle on Oct 1, 2009 - 3 answers

I looked up the etymology of parole in An etymological dictionary of the Romance languages, and was intrigued by this: "It took the place of the L. verbum which, from religious scruples, was sparingly used" (emphasis mine). What "religious scruples" are they alluding to? No elaboration is given in that entry. I realize that verbum means "word", and shares a stem with lots of other meanings, but I would love to know if anyone knows more.
posted by everichon on Sep 8, 2009 - 11 answers

Why are the teen numbers (13-19) named differently than the rest of the numbers, and what's up with eleven and twelve? [more inside]
posted by Arbac on Sep 5, 2009 - 33 answers

Does a comprehensive etymological dictionary exist that crosses languages? [more inside]
posted by Tchad on Sep 3, 2009 - 11 answers

Why is the wooden block at the end of a violin bow called a "frog"?
posted by mendel on Jul 11, 2009 - 5 answers

My boss has asked me to sort out the etymology of the words "Ponos" (Greek for Labor ?) and "Poena" (Latin for Sorrow?). The question is which came first, and are they related as it seems? Also, would those rough definitions be close to accurate?
posted by willnot on Apr 28, 2009 - 5 answers

What is the origin of the phrase "Mama needs a new pair of shoes"? I've also seen "Mama needs new shoes". Where did it come from and why is it sometimes used specifically in relation to gambling? [more inside]
posted by =^^= on Mar 11, 2009 - 13 answers

Single word that means "to sing the praises of", poss. Greek or Roman in origin. Thinking paean, or ode but not quite. [more inside]
posted by jchinique on Feb 23, 2009 - 25 answers

There is a Greek word which describes a preference for voyeurism over participation in sexual activities. What is it? (It may involve small boys.)
posted by Tufa on Feb 18, 2009 - 3 answers

What is the etymology, meaning, or connotation of the first/personal name Maher in Arabic culture? [more inside]
posted by Derive the Hamiltonian of... on Feb 8, 2009 - 11 answers

How does one arrive at a list of all the English words that can be traced back to a given root word? The word "chameleon" will be discussed. [more inside]
posted by sleevener on Jan 9, 2009 - 9 answers

Cusco or Cuzco? Is this a matter of potato potahto? Or post-colonial post-colohnial? [more inside]
posted by cachondeo45 on Dec 22, 2008 - 10 answers

What is the origin of the phrase "getting the hang" of something? What did it mean, originally, to "get the hang" of something?
posted by RedEmma on Oct 9, 2008 - 17 answers

What is the origin of the phrase "by the balls" as in: "He's really got you by the balls."? [more inside]
posted by sciurus on Oct 2, 2008 - 14 answers

Where does Doo-Wop come from? [more inside]
posted by phylum sinter on Oct 1, 2008 - 8 answers

trivial question on the etymology of "Spam": Did it originate at a Pern hatching? [more inside]
posted by Challahtronix on Sep 8, 2008 - 8 answers

Where does the phrase "losing your virginity" come from? [more inside]
posted by rzperllian on Sep 2, 2008 - 13 answers

Are there any layman-accessible, English-language books or (less preferably) websites on Japanese etymology or the development of Japanese? [more inside]
posted by Citizen Premier on Aug 30, 2008 - 6 answers

Where did the saying "It's 5 'o Clock Somewhere" originate? [more inside]
posted by applemeat on Jul 30, 2008 - 13 answers

What does hemophiliac mean? [more inside]
posted by brevator on Jul 28, 2008 - 18 answers

What is the origin of the cross-linguistic "kutt"-like root for dog? [more inside]
posted by harhailla.harhaluuossa on Jul 12, 2008 - 8 answers

What is the etymology of "brand new"? When did it first appear?
posted by Neale on Jun 24, 2008 - 4 answers

The etymology of Greek "glory" names... [more inside]
posted by clockzero on May 29, 2008 - 2 answers

MajorDomesticDebateFilter : What is up? She says jig. I say gig. Google is undecided. [more inside]
posted by vizsla on Apr 25, 2008 - 37 answers

What is the etymology of the word "cockpunch"? [more inside]
posted by Tube on Apr 24, 2008 - 15 answers

When did the concept of "transferable skills" become commonplace? [more inside]
posted by Tube on Apr 1, 2008 - 6 answers

What does Billy Joel mean when he sings, “the most she will do is throw shadows at you”? [more inside]
posted by dreamphone on Feb 15, 2008 - 31 answers

Etymology of "ginger" to mean redhead? [more inside]
posted by Pocahontas on Feb 8, 2008 - 21 answers

Another etymology question : what's the origin of the term `book' meaning `to go'. For example `Let's book on outta here", or "I'm gonna book down to the 7-11". [more inside]
posted by tomble on Jan 10, 2008 - 35 answers

Why do mathematicians (and/or programmers) describe information passed to a function as an 'argument'? [more inside]
posted by b33j on Dec 13, 2007 - 14 answers

Obsessivewordenthusiastfilter: I'm writing a paper and I'm trying to portray a certain situation which I feel would be best conveyed with the use of an allusion, preferably to a Greek or Roman myth. More inside! [more inside]
posted by Lockeownzj00 on Dec 9, 2007 - 19 answers

What is the origin of using asterisks to bracket a self-referential action statement? [more inside]
posted by Tube on Dec 8, 2007 - 27 answers

Etymologyfilter: what is the origin of the term"Bird Course"?
posted by Fuzzy Monster on Dec 7, 2007 - 8 answers

Hitler, Himmler, Goebbels, Ribbentrop, Göring -- what are these surname origins? [more inside]
posted by zek on Nov 12, 2007 - 9 answers

If "anhedonia" is an inability to get pleasure from pleasurable experiences, is there a word or concept that describes an inability (or a diminished capacity) to be saddened by experiences usually considered "sad"? [more inside]
posted by cadastral on Nov 1, 2007 - 25 answers

What's the origin of the phrase "special (little) snowflake?" [more inside]
posted by dw on Oct 5, 2007 - 19 answers

Does the English language have a one-word verb meaning "to write a biography of someone"? And if so: does anyone use it? [more inside]
posted by mdonley on Sep 5, 2007 - 27 answers

How did the word "Brave" originate to identify Native Americans?
posted by obedo on Aug 3, 2007 - 6 answers

Is there a name for phrases (or sometimes words) that have lost their previous specific/narrow/jargon meanings and are now used generally in a wide variety of situations with little or no knowledge about their prior usage? Are there lists of them anywhere with the phrases and explanations? [more inside]
posted by andoatnp on Jul 30, 2007 - 18 answers

So, I want to learn more about etymology. What's a good place to get started? [more inside]
posted by kmtiszen on Jul 30, 2007 - 9 answers

Please help me find the etymology for the German word "kitsch". [more inside]
posted by Durhey on Jul 12, 2007 - 10 answers

Does the phrase "Please, not in the face!" (in reference to a metaphorical imminent beating) have a definitive, particular origin from a famous film or some other piece of pop culture? Or has it just sort of established itself from actual beatings?
posted by so_necessary on Jun 15, 2007 - 16 answers

I need to find the word meaning "a word with mixed Latin and Greek roots." It's not just "hybrid word," but a word that specifically indicated Greek and Latin origins. I've had several people remark that they know it but can't think of it, and my search skills have failed thusfar.
posted by luftmensch on May 6, 2007 - 10 answers

What is the origin of the phrase, "last, best hope" as used in pretty much every self-consciously significant but ultimately cliched film, book or TV episode I've indulged myself with over the last ten years?
posted by barbelith on Apr 8, 2007 - 18 answers

In England it's common for football (soccer) fans to declare their team allegiance by saying "I'm X" rather than "I'm an X supporter". For example today I overheard this snippet of conversation: Football supporter 1: "Are you Liverpool?" Football supporter 2: "No, I'm Arsenal." It's as if the team defines an entire person. Where and how did this turn of phrase evolve, and is it common with any other sports in other places?
posted by roofus on Apr 1, 2007 - 16 answers

I am looking for the etymology for the term "gentleman's 'c'" and my google-fu is just pulling up Bush-bashing. Any advice from the hive?
posted by B-squared on Mar 21, 2007 - 8 answers

Why is it called the index finger? [more inside]
posted by ramenopres on Feb 23, 2007 - 8 answers