history of the words ‘clew’ and ‘clue’

15th May 2017.Reading time 6 minutes.

The noun clue appeared as a variant spelling of clew, of same pronunciation. Not frequent until the 17th century, clue has become the prevailing form of the word in the sense of a fact or idea that serves to reveal something or solve a problem. The word is from Old English cliwen, cleowen, meaning a ball formed by winding yarn, twine or thread (it is still one […]

origin of ‘old chestnut’ and of French ‘marronnier’

14th May 2017.Reading time 12 minutes.

The term old chestnut denotes a joke, story or subject that has become tedious and uninteresting through constant repetition. Here, the adjective old is simply an intensifier of the noun. The figurative use of chestnut originated in American-English theatrical slang. Diary of a Daly Débutante: being passages from the journal of a member of Augustin Daly’s […]

origin of ‘cold call’ (unsolicited visit or phone call)

13th May 2017.Reading time 6 minutes.

FREE! For the Salesman who wants to add at least $50,000 to his income every year “Cold Call Selling” the great new approach that turns […]

history of the cat-o’-nine-tails

10th May 2017.Reading time 7 minutes.

cat-o’-nine-tails (1866-79) – photograph: National Maritime Museum The noun cat-o’-nine-tails denotes a rope whip with nine knotted cords, formerly used, especially at sea, to flog offenders. This instrument of punishment was authorised in the British navy and army until 1881—cf. also to run the gauntlet. The word is first recorded in Love for […]

origin of the phrase ‘no room to swing the cat’

9th May 2017.Reading time 9 minutes.

Q. Once hairy scenter did transgress, Whose dame, both powerful and fierce, Tho’ hairy scenter took delight To do the thing both fair and right, Upon a Sabbath day. A. An old Woman whipping her Cat for Catching Mice on a Sunday. from The True Trial […]

origin of ‘deadline’ (time limit)

8th May 2017.Reading time 9 minutes.

the prison-pen at Millen This pen was built of large logs driven in the ground, with sentry posts on the top, at short intervals. No shelter whatsoever was afforded the prisoners, and they were compelled to burrow in the earth, to avoid the scorching sun or the biting frost, for their captors robbed them […]

meaning and origin of the phrase ‘to run the gauntlet’

7th May 2017.Reading time 8 minutes.

SOLDAT PASSE PAR LES BAGUETTES. Un des chatiments du soldat dans un camp c’est de le depouiller nud jusqu’a la ceinture sa chemise pendante sur ses chausses et le faire passer entre deux Rengées […]

meaning and origin of ‘one man’s meat is another man’s poison’

7th May 2017.Reading time 4 minutes.

The proverb (what’s) one man’s meat is another (man)’s poison means that things liked or enjoyed by one person may be distasteful to another. In this proverb, meat has its original sense of food in general, anything used as nourishment, solid food as opposed to drink. This original sense survives in sweetmeat and in the phrase […]

the authentic origin of ‘show a leg’ (get out of bed)

5th May 2017.Reading time 11 minutes.

HOW A SAILOR BEGINS HIS DAY’S WORK A Scene on board H.M.S. “Trafalgar.” The boatswain blows his whistle at 5 o’clock in the morning and cries, “All hands.” Diving in and out beneath the hammocks he goes with bent head calling the same old cry of Nelson’s day: “Rise and shine. Show a leg—show […]

meaning and origin of the phrase ‘hair of the dog’

4th May 2017.Reading time 8 minutes.

A Mad Dog in a Coffee House (London, 20th March 1809) by the English caricaturist Thomas Rowlandson (1756-1827) The term hair of the dog denotes an alcoholic drink taken to cure a hangover. It is a shortening of the phrase hair of the dog that bit you, first recorded in A dialogue […]