Know the origins of the names of your favorite fall foods. The fall harvest doesn't let word lovers go hungry: It yields a cornucopia of etymological roots as well. Feast on the bounty of these ...

Yuletide, on the other hand, dates back to the ancient roots of our language. Tide in this context just means "time," while ...

We often hear fascinating stories about how things originated: the universe, the wheel, even pizza. But when it comes to the words we toss around every single day without a second thought, it’s wild ...

Every word we use carries with it layers of history and culture that shape its meaning and usage today. Often, the words flowing effortlessly from our mouths have origins that are both fascinating and ...

The study of word origins (that is, etymology) is every bit the serious academic discipline you might expect it to be — except when it's not. As it turns out, people have a propensity to make false ...

Some rumors are too hazy to be believed. For years, claims have connected the root of the word "alcohol" to an Arabic term that purportedly means "body-eating spirit." Many of these claims miss the ...

Some rumors are too hazy to be believed. For years, claims have connected the root of the word "alcohol" to an Arabic term that purportedly means "body-eating spirit." Many of these claims miss the ...