Category
Etymology
20 articles
Procrastination: The Vice That Infuriated the Romans Who Coined the Word
Procrastination comes from the Latin «cras», tomorrow. Hesiod scolded procrastinators 2,700 years ago and Cicero declared it hateful. We're not the first.
Serendipity: The Word Born in a Letter From 1754
Few words have an exact birth certificate. Serendipity was born on January 28th, 1754, in a private letter — and its root is the old name of Sri Lanka.
“Bizarro” Doesn't Mean What You Think
For centuries, the Spanish word “bizarro” meant brave and gallant. How a false friend stole a word's meaning — and how the dictionary surrendered.
Narcissus Didn't Fall in Love With Himself: The Myth Behind “Narcissist”
Half the internet wants to know what a narcissist is. The Greek myth that named the word doesn't tell the story you think — and it's far better.
Does the Word “Travel” Really Come From a Torture Device?
Viral etymology says “travel” (and Spanish “trabajo”) comes from the tripalium, a Roman torture device. Short answer: sort of. The long one is better.
Why Is the Panama Hat Called Panama If It Was Born in Ecuador?
The world's most famous hat is woven in Montecristi and Cuenca, yet it bears another country's name. The story of a stylish injustice.
Maecenas Was Not a Word: He Was a Man
Behind every patron of the arts stands a real man: Gaius Maecenas, Augustus' millionaire friend who paid poets — and changed history doing it.
Why Does September Mean Seven If It's the Ninth Month?
September comes from septem, seven — yet it's the ninth month. Neither Julius Caesar nor Augustus is to blame: the story is older and stranger.
The Origin of the Word “Petrichor”
The smell of rain has had a name since 1964: petrichor, “the blood of the gods flowing from stone”. This is its story — and its science.
The Origin of the Word “Sybarite”
Sybaris was the richest, most luxurious city of ancient Greece — until its dancing horses doomed it. This is how the word sybarite was born.
The Origin of the Word “Ostracism”
In classical Athens, scratching a name on a piece of broken pottery could banish a man for ten years. This is how ostracism was born.
The Real Origin of the Word “Gringo”
Everyone repeats that “gringo” comes from “green go home”, but the word already existed in Spain in 1787. This is the real story behind the term.
The Origin of the Word "Boycott"
Doesn't this little word sound strange to you? Like it doesn't quite fit with most words in the
The Story Behind the Name of Isla de la Plata and the Treasure It Still Hides
The largest island in Ecuador's Manabí province has a name that evokes a duality.
Barbecued Meat and the Origin of the Buccaneers
The buccaneers were a fierce and ruthless breed of pirates who prowled the seas back in the 17th century
The Chilling Origins of the Word Defenestrate
With all the political instability here in Latin America, this peculiar little word keeps echoing through the news, to describe
A Brief Study on the Origin of the Term "Pelucón"
In 2007, Rafael Correa took office as President of Ecuador and immediately dusted off a practically forgotten
Origins of the word cocolón and no, it does not come from "cook too long"
Attending the concern of a good friend who asked me on twitter if there is something true with
Chipipe is not Shit Pipe
A few days ago I heard a badly made rumor. Someone came up with the "theory" that the
Etymology of the Word YONI. Where Does This Term Come From?
In short, the term "yoni" means the United States of America (USA) and is used in Ecuador. How