Tagged Questions
1
vote
2answers
81 views
How widely used is the word “tush”
In my dialect of American English, the word "tush" or "tushy" is a dimminuitive of "rear end" (e.g., something you'd say about a baby, not as harsh as "butt" and a word you aren't ashamed to say to ...
2
votes
1answer
149 views
Why is there a difference in the adoption of “Kindergarten” in American and British English?
As someone living in the US, I've heard the term "Kindergarten" used quite frequently. However someone from the UK was mentioning to me that the term is really not used that much in British English. ...
3
votes
1answer
155 views
Origin of using “gets to”
As I was writing an email to someone today, at the end of the message in jest I wrote:
Well, I best gets to workin’.
After I wrote it I looked at the phrase I best gets to. It came to me as if ...
1
vote
1answer
175 views
What is the connection between motherhood and apple pie?
I know the idiom motherhood and apple pie is used to denote some principles with which few disagree. But what is the connection between motherhood and apple pie? I am not very familiar with American ...
6
votes
2answers
116 views
Etymology of 'Pizzazz'
A question from December 2011 asked What is the social context of "pizzazz"?. I'm curious about the word's etymology. I checked some reference books, but they showed very little agreement ...
2
votes
1answer
86 views
“On Tap” in the Sense of “Coming Up”
Starting with the Fifth Edition (1936), seven generations of the Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary have included (under the entry for tap) three definitions of "on tap," currently worded as ...
10
votes
1answer
343 views
What is the source of “Long time no see,” and when did it enter U.S. English?
A question from almost two years ago asked "In which countries is that “long time no see” greeting common?" The question drew a number of answers that were squarely on point, but also a couple that ...
1
vote
2answers
164 views
“Kamarka part” etymology? [closed]
I know of some people in south Arkansas and north Louisiana that use this phrase. An example of its use would be when you have almost used up something, you have reached the "kamarka part."
I hear it ...
2
votes
2answers
125 views
When did the term 'get lost' first come to use?
Have tacked this term to be an American idiom. Does anyone know when it came to popular use or was first used there?
1
vote
1answer
126 views
Do Americans use the term “garburator” or is there a better equivalent?
Is it obsolete to use the term garburator to refer to a garbage disposal unit in a kitchen? If it is, do we have a better term to replace it with?
Also, what is the etymology of this word?
3
votes
1answer
91 views
“Tabled”, US vs UK [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the meaning of the expression “We can table this”?
Here's an example snippet for some context.
Ann had an idea. We tabled her idea.
In the UK this means ...
3
votes
2answers
138 views
OED Appeals: Antedatings of “party animal”
The OED has made a public appeal for help in tracing the history of some English words, including:
party animal
noun earlier than 1982
When the OED added its entry for party animal, ...
6
votes
2answers
207 views
Meaning of “Y-o-u-u Tom!”
In the opening chapter of Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Tom's aunt Polly calls out to him in a rather peculiar fashion:
She went to the open door and stood in it, and looked out among the ...
4
votes
1answer
101 views
What a pluperfect a##hole
From The Silence of the Lambs (1988):
"Marilyn Sutter saw it upstairs. Chilton was blowing off about "The Search for Billy
Rubin." Then he went to dinner with a television reporter. That's ...
6
votes
4answers
507 views
Different Meanings of 'Jumper' (Transatlantic embarassment)
I'm originally from Wales, now living in the USA, and as the cold weather is approaching I'm determined, this year, to start using the word sweater to describe the item of clothing I'm wearing, as ...
6
votes
4answers
330 views
Origin of “Erry” (every)
I have noticed a trend in some rap music where erry replaces the word every (see 1:35 of "The Motto" by Drake). Can anyone shed light on the origins of this pronunciation?
I thought it might trace to ...
9
votes
4answers
570 views
Why does “klick” mean kilometer in US military slang?
Wiktionary says it is either likely a pseudo-condensed pronunciation of kilometer or onomatopoeic of the sound of a military odometer.
Though kilometers are not commonly used to measure distance ...
6
votes
2answers
464 views
“Bust a cap” meaning and derivation
I've always believed that the phrase "bust a cap in yo ass" was AAVE for:
To shoot an individual with a gun.
Whilst trying to figure out what the cap actually meant, I ran into this alternate ...
5
votes
1answer
273 views
What does “state” in “State University” refer to? [closed]
There are many universities and colleges in the United States with names such as "... State University".
The word state has many distinct meanings, but pertinent to this question are:
government, ...
10
votes
1answer
1k views
Why is it called a semi-truck? Doesn’t “semi” mean “part”?
I was wondering why semi-trucks are called that. Doesn’t semi mean “part of”? A semi-truck is a whole truck if I ever saw one!
6
votes
1answer
268 views
What is an 'Iron Ring Event'
In a recent podcast of .Net rocks (at 45 minutes 29 seconds), regarding the future of software craftsmanship, it is postulated that there will be an 'Iron Ring Event' (if I heard it correctly). From ...
7
votes
8answers
1k views
“Skipping rope” vs. “jump rope”
Well it is summer time and I have to lose some weight so I have chosen the cardiovascular activity to do that jumping rope. While digging on some information I have asked myself a few questions:
Why ...
13
votes
1answer
2k views
Trapezium/trapezoid — why are the US/UK definitions swapped around?
These are the US definitions...
Trapezoid — a 4-sided flat shape with straight sides that has a pair of opposite sides parallel.
Trapezium — a 4-sided flat shape with straight sides and NO parallel ...
2
votes
1answer
326 views
Convolve vs. convolute
I understand that for common usage these words have distinct meanings. However in mathematics there is a process called convolution, and sometimes you hear "you need to convolve X" and sometimes "you ...
5
votes
1answer
129 views
What are the correct spelling and regional distribution of “X, schmX” to indicate dismissiveness (e.g., “evidence, schmevidence”)?
There is a curious construct in American English in which a word is stated and then repeated with the prefix "schm-" or "shm-" in order to indicate the speaker's dismissive attitude toward a concern ...
2
votes
1answer
297 views
Why is it 'speaking'/'speech' instead of 'speeking'/'speech' or 'speaking'/'speach'?
Why is it speaking/speech instead of speeking/speech or speaking/speach?
4
votes
3answers
438 views
Usage and confusion on “geek” and “hipster”
Within the circle I regularly communicate with the meaning of these words is commonly understood:
Geek - someone with an obsessive interest in one field.
Hipster - someone who ironically apes geek ...
5
votes
2answers
263 views
The term 'vocal fry': where does it come from?
On a recent Language Log posting Vocal fry: "creeping in" or "still here"?, Mark Liberman discusses an (also) recent article about the phenomenon of 'vocal fry' and shows how it has been around for ...
0
votes
3answers
1k views
How did the use of “could of” and “should of” originate, and is it considered correct? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is “of” instead of “have” correct?
It bothers me that so many people use could of, would of, should of instead of could've or could have, etc.
For instance, I have seen ...
6
votes
3answers
313 views
Why are certain categories of words more likely to vary between British and American English?
There are certain groups of words that are much more likely to vary between British and American dialects of English.
terms relating to cars, trains and roads (boot/trunk, bonnet/hood, ...
2
votes
2answers
540 views
“Badger someone” [closed]
I've heard the expression "to badger someone" in British English usage, and not being able to find out about its origins, I wonder if it is also commonly used elsewhere, for example, in American ...
4
votes
8answers
3k views
Why is it called an “Indian file”?
I recently came across a US phrase, Indian file. This is utterly unheard of in the UK, and probably outside North America; at least I’ve certainly never heard of it. The phrase would be expressed in ...
6
votes
1answer
472 views
Why is “ouster” the act of ousting and not one who ousts?
The question should be clear enough from the title.
Also: What are we supposed to call one who ousts? [If this warrants another question, I will edit this out and open another question.]
11
votes
2answers
858 views
Preventative vs. preventive
In this answer about the non-word disabilitated, the word preventative is compared (unfavourably, if my reading of the implication is correct) to preventive.
However, I have always used preventative, ...
5
votes
3answers
718 views
Where does “hot damn!” come from?
There is the exclamation "hot damn", which one might use, in certain contexts, similar to " All right!", or "Excellent!" (American English, as far as I know.)
Google ngrams says it doesn't see it ...
7
votes
1answer
632 views
Etymology of reduplicative compound “nitty-gritty”
I've always been curious about that one and I've come across many contending theories for the etymology of nitty-gritty. English is quite fond of these reduplicative compounds.
I'd like to know ...
17
votes
4answers
5k views
Why do we call our lovers “baby”?
It is common in American English and culture to refer to one's lover or significant other as "baby" or "babe", for example:
Come on baby, light my fire! 1
or
I got you, I won't let go. I got ...
11
votes
3answers
2k views
“Stick it in the boot.” “Er, don't you mean the trunk?”
Does anyone know the etymological history or the reason behind the different names that British and American speakers use to refer to the automobile's largest storage receptacle, or more plainly, the ...
7
votes
3answers
303 views
“Parting shot” origin
Is there a connection betweem "a parting shot at the end of a discussion" and the Parthian horse archer practice of wheeling from the battle line and firing an arrow on the run?
3
votes
3answers
1k views
Do “carat” and “karat” have the same origin?
Do carat and karat have the same origin?
Is it correct to say that carat derives from the Italian carato, while karat derives from the from Arabic ḳīrāṭ? Is it possible that both words derive from ...
25
votes
6answers
11k views
“Oriented” vs. “orientated”
What are the origins of the word orientated?
As far as I know, the correct spelling is oriented and orientated is not an alternative spelling but an error that is in common use.
Is it for example ...
3
votes
2answers
562 views
“Hot Diggity …”
Ok, perhaps the last one was too easy :) Here's one that a friend of mine uses, and I'd love to know if it's something he coined, or is it a more common expression than I think:
Hot ...
3
votes
4answers
184 views
What is the origin of “cross country skiing”?
I was speaking of skiing when I was in USA, and I discovered that one type of ski is called cross country skiing.
What is the origin of that phrase, which is not really referring to skiing through ...
9
votes
2answers
3k views
Origin of the meaning of “à la mode”
In American English, à la mode means:
in fashion, up to date.
with ice cream.
(of beef) braised in wine, typically with vegetables.
While the first meaning matches the French meaning, the other ...
51
votes
6answers
2k views
How come 'ou' was reduced to 'o' in the US?
Americans write color and favorite, when others say colour and favourite. How/why did this happen?
1
vote
1answer
325 views
On being golden
Saying that [someone] is golden means that person is in a desirable situation that will likely lead to some sort of success.
I am trying to find out the origin of this phrase. So far, I have found ...
5
votes
2answers
2k views
Why “ladybird”?
In case you don't know, in British English, the little red-with-black-spots insect is not called a "ladybug", as in North America, but a "ladybird".
This seems rather a poor act of classification, ...
18
votes
5answers
8k views
What is the origin of the phrase “I'll take a raincheck”?
What is the origin of the phrase I'll take a raincheck?
4
votes
2answers
1k views
When did “y'all” become improper?
It is my understanding that the contraction y'all was considered correct American English in times past. At what point was this word removed from valid American English?
6
votes
2answers
2k views
What is the origin of the colloquial term “bum” meaning a homeless person?
Just out of curiosity, I was wondering about the history of the term "bum" meaning a homeless person, not the UK version referring to someone's posterior.
Bonus: If you know the background on "Hobo" ...
