‘to wet the baby’s head’: meaning and origin
UK, 1845—to celebrate the birth of a child by drinking alcohol
Read More‘holy laugh’: meaning and origin
USA, 1826—a laugh by a person in a state of religious fervour—especially used in reference to Methodist camp-meetings
Read More‘bed and breakfast’ (verb): meanings and early occurrences
UK, 1883—to stay at a hotel, inn, etc., that provides a bed for the night and breakfast the following morning—to stay at an establishment known as a ‘bed and breakfast’
Read More‘Left-Bankish’: meaning and origin
USA, 1936—characteristic or reminiscent of the Left Bank (‘Rive Gauche’ in French), the part of Paris south of the River Seine, noted for its intellectual and artistic life
Read More‘housemaid’s knee’: meaning and origin
inflammation of the bursa over the kneecap (prepatellar bursa), typically induced by kneeling on hard floors—UK, from 1824 onwards in medical publications
Read More‘California toothpick’: meaning and origin
USA, 1851—a bowie-knife—apparently coined in relation to the California Gold Rush, which began in 1848
Read More‘California widow’: meaning and origin
Australia & USA, 1850—a married woman whose husband has left to prospect for gold in California
Read More‘clergyman’s sore throat’: meaning and origin
chronic pharyngitis—first used in medical texts published in Philadelphia from 1837 onwards—in reference to preachers who overstrain their voice
Read More‘tennis elbow’: meaning and origin
UK, 1881—a form of repetitive strain injury (first identified in tennis players) that affects the tendons of forearm muscles attached to the lateral epicondyle of the humerus—synonym ‘lateral epicondylitis’
Read Morenotes on the phrase ‘to walk Spanish’
early 19th century—chiefly U.S.—to be forced by another to walk on tiptoe—to walk cautiously—to be discharged or dismissed—to discharge or dismiss (someone)—origin unknown
Read More
word histories 