Etymology

“Christmas” is a weird word

Merry Sending of the Smeared One!

Dec 24, 2025 • Colin Gorrie

How debt shaped the way we speak

And what it shows about how language works

Dec 10, 2025 • Colin Gorrie

The origin of nothing

Why negative words start with ‘n’

Nov 12, 2025 • Colin Gorrie

What is a Hallow, anyway?

The linguistic mysteries of "Halloween"

Oct 29, 2025 • Colin Gorrie

“God” is a weird word

Two competing divine etymologies

Oct 15, 2025 • Colin Gorrie

“Big” is a weird word

Etymology and the limits of explanation

Sep 10, 2025 • Colin Gorrie

A detective’s guide to English place names

And the hidden history they reveal

Aug 30, 2025 • Colin Gorrie

No, that word doesn’t come from an acronym

Neither does that one.

Aug 20, 2025 • Colin Gorrie

“Boy” is a weird word

From baby talk to term of abuse

Jul 30, 2025 • Colin Gorrie

“Dog” is a weird word

Where animal names come from

Jun 11, 2025 • Colin Gorrie

“She” is a weird word

The mysterious origin of a simple pronoun

Apr 9, 2025 • Colin Gorrie