Junk

[overdale]

Who invented the word 'Junk' and why does it mean rubbish

[Quizmonster]

No-one knows the origin in the 'rubbish' sense. As the name of a Chinese boat, however, it comes from the Javanese word 'djong'.

To make you a little bit more independent in your search for word-origins, here's an idea. Click here and a link will take you to the YourDictionary website. Once there, you'll see a slot into which you should type the word you want to know about and then click on �Go'.
The new page explains the various meanings of the word, followed - at the bottom of the page in square brackets - by its etymology...ie its origin/roots. If you do that with the p-word you asked about earlier, for example, you will see that it came into Modern English from Middle English (11th to 15th centuries), having earlier come from Old French (early 11th to early 14th centuries) and - earlier still - Latin.
When you see that a source is so ancient, it should be obvious to you that we will never know who was the very first person ever to utter/write the word. In other words, to all intents and purposes, no-one "invented" it!

Try it now!!

[B00]

I'd just like to say that QM's patience over the past few days has been remarkable- lol.

[Trillipse]

oh. my lord. Who invented teh word "ars*hole" and why does it mean overdale.

please tell me if there's a valid reason for all these vacuous questions, and if there is, i'll try to help rather than taking the p*ss/ getting angry.

[Quizmonster]

I just assumed that there was a reason that appeared valid in the questioner's terms, if no-one else's...I usually do. Besides, etymology is endlessly fascinating and I learned a thing or two myself in providing the answers.

[Trillipse]

QM - that's because you are truly an honourable person. with the patience of a saint. the rest of us would prefer an explanation

[Trillipse]

ps, QM, your answers have done more to expand my meagre knowledge over the last few months than my educators ever did, and for that, thankyou...

[Quizmonster]

You are really too kind, Trillipse, but thank you for those words.