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Here's Part Five of Interesting Etymologies (word origins)!
Umbrella, Parasol
The word umbrella is from the Latin word umbra, which
meanings "shade" or "shadow". Umbra derived from the
Ancient Greek word ómbros. Another word for umbrella is
parasol, which was first used as a protection against
the extreme heat of the sun. In Latin, para means "stop"
or "shield", and sol means "sun".
Brolly is a slang word for umbrella that is used in
Britain, New Zealand and Australia. Bumbershoot was a
fancy name for umbrellas in America back in the late 19th
century. Umbrellas are also sometimes called gamps in
Britain, after the character Mrs. Gamp in the Charles Dickens
novel Martin Chuzzlewit.
Chocolate
The word "chocolate" comes from the Aztecs of Mexico, and is
derived from the Nahuatl word xocolat. Xocolat
means "bitter water", a combination of the words,
xocolli ("bitter"), and atl ("water"). The
Aztecs associated chocolate with Xochiquetzal, the goddess of
fertility. Chocolate is also associated with the Maya god of
fertility. On the right is a photograph of a tree growing cacao
beans.
Platypus
The Platypus is an egg-laying mammal found in eastern Australia.
It has a distinct duck bill and webbed feet. The word
platypus is a Latin word derived from the Greek words
"platys" (flat, broad) and "pous" (foot) - so the word
platypus means "flat foot", indicative of its physical
features.
Algorithm
In 825 AD, a Persian astronomer and mathematician named
Al-Khwārizmī wrote a treatise called On Calculation with
Hindu Numerals (written in Arabic). It was translated into
Latin in the 12th century as Algoritmi de numero
Indorum. The title was most likely intended to mean
"Algoritmi on the numbers of the Indians", where "Algoritmi" was
the translator's rendition of the author's name. However, people
treated Algoritmi as a Latin plural and this led to the word
"algorithm" (Latin algorismus) coming to mean
"calculation method". The intrusive "th" is most likely due to a
false cognate with the Greek ἀριθμός (arithmos) meaning
"number".
Engineering
Engineering comes from the word engineer, which itself
dates back to 1325 - back then, an engine'er referred to a
operator or constructor of military engines. These "engines" were
military machines, mechanical contraptions used in war (such as
catapults). The word engine is ultimately derived from
the Latin word ingenium, meaning "innate quality,
especially mental power, hence a clever invention".
Smorgasbord
Smörgåsbord is a Swedish word which refers to a type of buffet.
The Swedish word "smörgåsbord" is a combination word consisting
of the words smörgås ("sandwich") and bord ("table").
"Smörgås" can further be broken down into the words smör
("butter") and gås (literally means "goose", but in its old
meaning it is churned butter floating on skimmed milk). This term
is sometimes used in English to describe a buffet-like meal. In
Norway it is called a koldtbord and in Denmark it is
called a kolde bord.
Jade, Nephrite
Although Jade is associated with China and Japan, its word origin
has no Asian connections. The word 'jade' is derived from the
Spanish term piedra de ijada or 'stone of the flanks',
because there was a popular belief that jade could cure pain in
the renal/kidney area of the body. In French, the word
ijada became l'ejade ("the jade"). Another word
for jade is nephrite. In Greek, nephros means
"kidney".
Marathon
The word marathon comes from an ancient Greek legend.
Pheidippides, a Greek messenger, was sent from the town of
Marathon to go to Athens to announce that the Persians had been
defeated in the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC. The legend states
that he ran the entire distance without stopping and burst into
the assembly, exclaiming "Nenikékamen" (We have won), before
collapsing and dying.
All time most popular tags
Image Credits: Chocolate, Parasol, Jade,
Marathon - Wikipedia,
Platypus - State of the
Environment Tasmania, Math - luftg1t4rr3,
Smorgasbord buffet - alisdair
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