word histories

telling the stories behind words and phrases – exposing the falseness of many etymologies flourishing in books and on the Internet

to lick into shape

30th May 2017.Reading time 11 minutes.

This phrase originated in the belief that bear cubs were born formless and had to be licked into shape by their mother.

admirable Crichton

26th October 2016.Reading time 8 minutes.

biography of, and eulogy to, James Crichton of Clunie in Heroes ex omni historia Scotica lectissimi (1603) James Crichton of Clunie (circa 1560-1582) was a Scottish prodigy of intellectual and knightly accomplishments, and the epithet admirable became traditionally applied to him. The Scottish scholar John Johnston (circa 1565-1611) used the Latin adjective […]