the curious origin of ‘the mind boggles’

5th Jun 2018.Reading time 7 minutes.

primary meaning of ‘boggle’ was ‘to start with fright’, originally with reference to horses—probably related to the nouns ‘bogle’ and ‘bogey’, denoting an evil spirit such as horses are reputed to see

the biblical origin of ‘deaf as an adder’

6th Dec 2017.Reading time 5 minutes.

The image of the deaf adder originated in the Book of Psalms, 58:4-5: “the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear; which will not hearken to the voice of charmers”.

origin of ‘eavesdrop’

10th Aug 2017.Reading time 6 minutes.

‘To eavesdrop’ originally referred to standing within the eavesdrop (the ground on to which water drips from the eaves of a house) in order to overhear what is going on inside.

word histories

Tag: George Chapman

the curious origin of ‘the mind boggles’

the biblical origin of ‘deaf as an adder’

origin of ‘eavesdrop’