"Emydidae" is the name of a family of turtles. What I want to know is what does the name *mean*. I have exhausted my google-fu and the best I've been able to find is this
wiktionary link that gives a meaning for "-idae" as "appearance". Any reptile/turtle fans care to enlighten me?
posted by moss free
on Mar 26, 2013 -
14 answers
Stamp collecting is philately. Coin collecting falls under numismatics (perhaps as a subdivision). Rock collecting is not really geology in the same way as the above terms are used. Is there a similar term for rock collecting?
posted by Jahaza
on Nov 3, 2012 -
7 answers
I'm looking for examples of terms that remain in common use, even though the technology that they originally described is obsolete or has changed. Also: does this phenomenon have a name?
[more inside]
posted by condour75
on Jul 24, 2012 -
39 answers
Is there a resource where I can learn about the Greek and Latin words that commonly underlie words and names in English? I don't want to learn Greek or Latin, I'm talking about
only the words which are commonly useful as 'clues'.
[more inside]
posted by Kirn
on Mar 13, 2012 -
14 answers
Has an evaluation been made of the dichotomy between what is implied by the term "wild" in the line "You drive us wild" and what is implied by the term "crazy" in the immediately following line "We'll drive you crazy" in KISS's "Rock And Roll All Night?"
posted by herbplarfegan
on Aug 23, 2011 -
16 answers
Calling etymologists, linguists, lexicographers, and research librarians! Was there a time when 'television,' 'radio,' or 'newspaper' were always capitalized?
[more inside]
posted by thebestsophist
on Jun 20, 2011 -
12 answers
What's the etymology of the phrase "once and for all"? What's the earliest known attestation?
posted by topynate
on Feb 11, 2011 -
5 answers
How did the word "earworm" come to mean something you can't get out of your head (like a song, etc)? Looking for the German etymology, if there is one.
[more inside]
posted by bitter-girl.com
on Oct 1, 2010 -
5 answers
Help me find English words that have meanings hidden in plain sight. For example, it only recently occurred to me that a "quart" is a quarter of a gallon.
[more inside]
posted by alms
on May 4, 2010 -
142 answers
I'm a word nerd who likes fun words and this word I came across is fun to say and, at least to me, kind of new:
mumblecore.
That got me thinking -- what makes a "-core?"
I am interested in how generes of certain media are dubbed “-core.” Is there anything that makes a genre a “-core” genre and not it’s own suffix-free genre name? Why is “screamo” not “screamcore,” when we have “nerdcore,” “noisecore,” and “hardcore?” (more...)
[more inside]
posted by cross_impact
on Apr 1, 2010 -
22 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
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
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
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
Weird grammar question that's been bugging me for a while with regards to reversing questioning clauses at the end of declarative sentences.
[more inside]
posted by WCityMike
on Sep 8, 2006 -
22 answers
BadWordFilter - Does the word "buttf**ker" refer to a man who sodomizes a woman, and in turn is just a "dirty sex act" word, or does it refer to a homosexual who sodomizes a man and in turn is a homophobic word? Likewise for "cocks**ker"? When calling someone a "cocks**ker" are you calling them a "girl" or are you calling them a "homo"? Am I thinking too much about it, or should I avoid using these words around women / homosexuals so not to appear sexist / homophobic?
posted by pwb503
on Jul 14, 2005 -
41 answers
Can anyone provide me with the origin of the word "meh"? I mean, yeah, definition-wise, it almost undoubtedly comes from "ehh."
[more inside]
posted by WCityMike
on May 17, 2005 -
29 answers
