vagrant

Comments by vagrant

• vagrant commented on the word aluminium

  It can hardly be considered a "misspelling" if that's how it was intended to be spelled. So, quit being haughty jerks about it.

  1812, coined by (British chemist) Sir Humphry Davy (1778-1829), from L. alumen "alum" (see alum). Davy originally called it alumium (1808), then amended this to aluminum, which remains the U.S. word, but British editors in 1812 further amended it to aluminium, the modern preferred British form, to better harmonize with other element names (sodium, potassium, etc.).

  It is the British version that is the "misspelling".

  September 22, 2008

• vagrant commented on the word vanilla

  1662, from Sp. vainilla "vanilla plant," lit. "little pod," dim. of vaina "sheath," from L. vagina "sheath" (see vagina). So called from the shape of the pods.

  Interesting.

  September 17, 2008

• vagrant commented on the word feidian

  Short for Feidianxing Feiyan (Atypical pneumonia), which is the Chinese term for SARS. I've always enjoyed the sound of it.

  September 17, 2008