minivet has adopted no words, looked up 0 words, created 3 lists, listed 41 words, written 5 comments, added 0 tags, and loved 36 words.

Comments by minivet

  • According to the OED, the prefix originally meant "pure," so it was actually an amplification of "blind," but this meaning became obscure centuries ago and it took meanings like partially blind, blind in one eye, myopic, stupid, etc.

    September 27, 2010

  • Nice etymology: from Latin "incalcare," stamp in, press upon, itself from "calcare," tread, so ultimately from "calx," heel, and therefore possibly cousin to "caliga," boot, and to the Roman Emperor Caligula (nickname meaning "little boot").

    September 27, 2010

  • It would be great, though, if instead of a feminist theory this word referred to the adolescent fascination with words vaguely comparable to sexual words (i.e., seizing on people named "Dick" or "Weiner".)

    December 10, 2006

  • I find folk etymologies based on acronyms tiresome. They ignore the fact that acronyms weren't in wide use before the thirties. Besides, they're actually really easy to make and craft an over-complex story around. I'll do one right now!

    Bosh = bit of salted herring. Fishmongers used to commonly situate themselves near lecture halls, so herring snacks, an item commonly pelted at unconvincing speakers, became synonymous with their credibility.

    December 10, 2006

  • Neologism alert! And a pretty clumsy one, I might add.

    December 10, 2006

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