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Word Origins

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cupid04

Why....

Is a French kiss so called? Why could it not be Greek or Polish for example?
16:19 Tue 08th May 20129 answers, last by Old_Geezer 18:21 Tue 08th May 2012
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Bert

Moonwalk ('dance' move)

I know that Michael Jackson did not invent the moonwalk, that it can be performed in slightly different ways, and that the move was known by other names in past times. But what I'd like to know is,...
08:53 Sun 29th Apr 20128 answers, last by Bert 20:06 Fri 04th May 2012
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Bert

In the lap of the gods

Does anybody know, or have any suggestions for, the origin of this expression? It means open to chance, an event over which we have no control - but why?
22:15 Fri 27th Apr 20125 answers, last by bert_h 19:23 Tue 01st May 2012
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Pandmfrost

sayings

start healthy finish healthy - 5 words does anyone know a saying for that
15:30 Fri 20th Apr 20121 answer, last by Wharton 15:35 Fri 20th Apr 2012
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islasmum

Why do words have "silent" letters?

For example Knee Pneumonia Knight Knive Gnat and so on?...
15:00 Fri 13th Apr 201217 answers, last by mike11111 16:40 Mon 16th Apr 2012
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bravejordy

Which Words Do You Find Peculiar or Funny?

One word that always makes me laugh is "discombobulated". Another, although the reason will be obvious, is "Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia" - the fear of long words!...
10:00 Sat 17th Mar 201255 answers, last by eyesh 14:57 Tue 10th Apr 2012
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derekpara

Coram

In Saturday's Daily Telegraph (4th Feb) Quick Crossword was the clue, ' A glancing collision'. Five letters. The answer was given today (Monday) as ' CORAM'. I've never heard this word before and I...
20:13 Mon 06th Feb 201214 answers, last by barryjbutler 13:10 Mon 05th Mar 2012
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FredPuli43

Midwifery schism!

Why do we pronounce midwifery 'midWIFFery' and not 'midwife-ree', 'midwife-ery' or even 'midwivery'? And I was taught that the word schism was 'sizm' [ the 'siz' sounding as in 'scissors'], but there...
00:45 Thu 01st Mar 20129 answers, last by jno 12:51 Thu 01st Mar 2012
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gollysailor

Foot

Why has foot largely replaced feet as a plural in everyday speech? e.g. 17 foot long. 55 foot wide. 89,000 foot in diameter. etc....
15:10 Sat 25th Feb 201212 answers, last by Quizmonster 15:53 Wed 29th Feb 2012
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cupid04

mass noun.

Can anyone give me examples of a mass noun. So often on Countdown Susie Dent disallows a word because it is a mass noun and I wondered what the rules were?...
15:48 Wed 15th Feb 201213 answers, last by peashaq 01:32 Thu 16th Feb 2012
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woofas

Shandy

My wife claims to have been sent as a child in Birmingham to an outdoor for a "stick & three" which she believes was a shandy! A new one on me! Any ideas???...
11:08 Mon 30th Jan 20121 answer, last by Old_Geezer 12:12 Mon 30th Jan 2012
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Postdog

OMG a totally clear category!!

Wish I had a word I wanted to ask about
22:59 Sat 28th Jan 201222 answers, last by Quizmonster 07:52 Sun 29th Jan 2012
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Cocosweet

Which body or group are responsible for making up the words that go on to be collective nouns for animals?

What exactly qualifies them and what process do they go through when coming up with a word to describe different groups of animals? The reason i ask this is because some of them sound so ridiculous...
13:15 Mon 14th Nov 201118 answers, last by Baldric 12:42 Wed 30th Nov 2011
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albaqwerty

A Wibbler

never knew what one was (or even existed until I watched Ade In Britain) A Dibber, isn't that some little thing for gardening and planting seeds? I love the names, where on earth do they come from?...
16:29 Tue 22nd Nov 201113 answers, last by heathfield 16:56 Wed 23rd Nov 2011
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1PrincessPink

Old sayings referring to wolves....

Does anyone know any other old sayings referring to wolves? I remember "keeping the wolf from the door", "wolfing down food", "wolf in sheep's clothing". Are there any...
12:12 Wed 02nd Nov 20119 answers, last by Ankou 15:36 Fri 11th Nov 2011
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ladybird6

Above branches round the table

looking at a 1850's census, I came across this to describe the children of an household, what does it mean ? any help please
23:10 Mon 26th Sep 20112 answers, last by THECORBYLOON 17:57 Sun 16th Oct 2011
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atm622

Assemblable

Does the word "assemblable" exist in US English? I am looking for a word that means "capable of being assembled" and I don't want to use the word buildable....
22:47 Fri 16th Sep 201115 answers, last by atm622 23:15 Fri 16th Sep 2011
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pa___ul3

Terrific - Terrible

Why does terrific mean good but terrible means bad when their root - terr- is the same?
14:08 Wed 14th Sep 201111 answers, last by jno 14:25 Wed 14th Sep 2011
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keyholekatebaron

Esperanto

Are there any views on the use of this artificial international language and why it didn't take on?
22:14 Thu 08th Sep 20117 answers, last by mike b 20:42 Sat 10th Sep 2011
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zabado

All at sea.

Where or what is the " Ally Ally O ". As in the rhyme The big ship sails on the "ally ally o"...
08:12 Sun 21st Aug 20114 answers, last by heathfield 15:34 Mon 22nd Aug 2011

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