Claim OwnershipEtymoleon - Word History, etymology
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© 2024 Leon Bailey-Green
Description
Etymoleon, a weekly 15 minute etymology podcast, gets into the world of word history and origins. Join Leon as he researches and explores the historical and linguistic roots of words, names and phrases tied to diverse topics.
Without expertise in linguistics or history, Leon assumes the role of an avid researcher, presenting analyses of how words have evolved over time.
Each episode unveils the journey of words, dissecting their transformations and connections to various languages such as Old English, Ancient Greek, Latin, Old French, Proto-Germanic and many more.
Expect a linguistic exploration but also snippets of historical events linked to the chosen words.
New episodes every Sunday.
Podcast takes a break prior to bank holidays of England & Wales.
53 Episodes
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This podcast returns in September. In the meantime, take a listen to this recap featuring a mix of clips from past episodes. Remember to leave a rating or review.
This podcast returns in September. In the meantime, take a listen to this recap featuring a mix of clips from past episodes. Remember to leave a rating or review.
This podcast returns in September. In the meantime, take a listen to this recap featuring a mix of clips from past episodes. Remember to leave a rating or review.
This podcast is celebrating its first anniversary, thank you for listening and subscribing. In this episode, we explore the etymology of expressions of gratitude, tracing the origins of words like thanks, grateful, blessed and applaud. Clapping is a common gesture of appreciation, but the word clap also has a secondary meaning related to infection. Find out the surprising connection to rabbits in that slang term's history. We also get into the history of greeting cards and the name meanings o...
1This episode gets into the origins of musical instrument names, from the guitar and ukulele to the harmonica, saxophone, drum and more. Learn how the saxophone got its name from its inventor, whose surname, Sax, is locational, tracing to Saxony. The Theremin is another instrument named after its creator. Discover Benjamin Franklin's surprising connection to the word 'harmonica', the etymological link between the oboe and the word bouquet, and the royal connection behind the phrase "blowing yo...
This episode uncovers etymology related to the pharmaceutical industry. Learn how Ozempic and Tylenol got their names, as well as pharmaceutical giants like Roche and Pfizer. Pfizer, for instance, is an occupational surname rooted in a Latin word meaning "baker". Find out how a male enhancement drug might be named after a Sanskrit word meaning "tiger" or designed to evoke the word "vigour". Additionally, we trace the word "placebo" back to a Latin word meaning "to please" and look at the orig...
In this episode, we uncover the origins of words related to the summer season, such as sweltering, holiday, barbecue and scorching. Learn about the dahlia, a flower of the British summer season, named after Swedish botanist Anders Dahl, who shares a surname with the famous author Roald Dahl. The name means "valley" with the English variant being "dale". Discover why the sunscreen brand Piz Buin is named after a mountain and how "al fresco" has a very different meaning in Italian slang compare...
This episode explores the origins and meanings of names popular with royalty. Discover why the nickname of a 10th century Nordic king lives on in the 20th century technology term Bluetooth. Learn how the name Harry, a pet form of Henry, traces back to the French pronunciation during the Middle English period. We also look into the ancient Greek roots of many female royal names such as Catherine, Sophia, Eugenie and Alexandra, and explore the connection between the mythological King Arthur and...
This episode gets into the origins of sleep-related terminology. Starting with how synonyms for sleep such as rest, nap, slumber and ZZZs entered the English language, we explain a theory as to why it's "forty winks" instead of twenty, thirty or fifty. Learn why the Old English word for snore is connected to rooting for someone to win, and why Australians might refer to a duvet as a doona.
In this episode, we explore the stories behind the names of some of the world's most iconic landmarks and the etymology of the words used. We examine Big Ben, the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Gherkin, Burj Khalifa and more. Also uncovered are the origins and meanings of the names of architects associated with these structures. Discover how a planning permission complaint led to the naming of The Shard and the etymologies of words like mausoleum, monument...
This time we're looking into the origins of global corporations, exploring the etymology of their brand names and uncovering snippets of their histories. Some corporate names are derived from everyday words (Microsoft, Apple, Shell) and others from their founders' names (Audi, JP Morgan, Toyota). Learn why a payment provider's name also means travel documentation, and the reason behind Microsoft's rebranding of its search engine to Bing.
In this episode we're taking a look at hair terminology, including the etymology behind diverse synonyms for hair, including dreads, mane and tresses. Learn about intriguing connections such as the association between the term "alopecia" and foxes, and the link between pomades and apples. Ever wondered about the origins of the word "shampoo" or the emergence of hair conditioners in the mid-century era? Listen to uncover the history. Also explored in this episode is the visionary behind the ic...
This episode uncovers various theories behind why and how we use certain non-verbal gestures to communicate, along with the origins of the terms that describe them. Discover the surprising history behind gestures like the high-five, said to be popularised by American baseball, and elbow touching, first suggested by the World Health Organization in 2006. The word smirk, once meant "to smile," before the emergence of the word smile itself. We also look into gestures like kissing the teeth, shak...
This time we're looking into furniture terminology, from the interchangeably used couch, sofa and settee to futon and hammock, which derive from the languages of their origin. Learn why the history of the dining room sideboard, known as the credenza, is rooted in the fear of food poisoning, and trace the origins of the word chair back to its Ancient Greek roots.
This episode explores the origins and meanings of names beginning with the letter C. Discover surprising connections between the name Charles and the term churlish, both rooted in a Germanic language word. Uncover how a Latin word meaning "hairless" influenced terms like Calvinism and chauvinist, named after historical figures. Explore the origin of the word curt, leading to the name Courtney, which means "short," and get into Gaelic roots with names like Colin and Callum.
In this episode, we get into the history of the Full English Breakfast, a dish that took shape around the 18th century. Explore the etymological origins of its essential components such as sausages, eggs, bacon, black pudding and baked beans. Uncover the intriguing story of why tomatoes were once known as 'love apples'. Additionally, discover the connection between the uses of term 'toast', and why it's associated not only with bread, but also with the raising of glasses in celebration.
In this episode, we delve into the world of phobias, uncovering the etymological origins behind words associated with deep-seated fears. Explore the roots of well-known phobias like arachnophobia, acrophobia and claustrophobia, as well as the lesser-known oenophobia, the fear of wine. Additionally, we explore the linguistic origins of glossophobia, an aversion to public speaking, and gymnophobia, associated with nudity-related fears. Trace the earlier versions of everyday expressions such as ...
In this episode, we explore the evolution of family member terminology, unravelling the origins of words such as mother, brother, nephew and cousin in English. Many of these familial designations have undergone significant changes over time; for instance, the term "niece" once referred to a granddaughter. Discover when terms like "co-parent", "glam-ma" (glamorous grandma) and "removed" first appeared. Furthermore, learn about the revival of the Old English term "sibb" in the early 20th centur...
This time, we're delving into the origins of famous cocktail drinks and uncovering the intriguing stories behind their names. The Bloody Mary, for instance, is rumoured to be named after a theatre production, while the name Mai Tai is thought to translate to 'good' or 'best'. The term "cocktail" itself has a mysterious origin, with some speculating a connection to horses. Additionally, we explore the significance of the word 'colada' in Pina Colada, which means 'strained' in Spanish and share...
This episode looks at words of the spring season. The month of March is named after the Roman god of war Mars, and the month of May was once known as 'the month of three milks'. As for the term 'spring clean', various theories exist to explain why this season is so connected to tidying. Delve into the etymological roots of springtime British vegetables like kale and asparagus, as well as the names Heath, Hyacinth and Daisy, which evoke the essence of spring.
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