by dictionary Scoop Geography, like all academic disciplines, has its own vocabulary and terminology. Concerned with everything from physical phenomena of the planet to social interactions, geographers have many specialized terms and concepts. You’ve probably used some of the words in this list. Yet, do you know exactly what they mean or where …
Category Archives: Words
More Financial Words With Surprising Origins
by Kevin Burton Some of the words we use to discuss finances didn’t start as money words, as we learned Wednesday, from a list from Merriam-Webster dictionary. We continue the theme today with a colorful phrase from the world of poker: Blue-chip Blue-chip, meaning “a stock issue of high investment quality that …
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Financial Words With Surprising Origins
by Kevin Burton Tax day is not our favorite day. But we mark it today with a list of financial words from Merriam-Webster. Capital The first known use of the word capital is in early Middle English, in which it was used as an adjective meaning “of or relating to the head.” It …
The Weird Ways We Have Measured Our World
by Dictionary Scoop Measuring the world is a human necessity, and throughout history, we’ve used some truly strange units. Here are 10 of the weirdest—and funniest—measures ever recorded. Not the most practical, but undeniably fun! 1-Beard-second A beard-second is the distance a beard grows in one second, roughly 5 nanometers. The unit originated in physics as a …
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Talking About The Weather, Using Idioms
by Dictionary Scoop We always talk about the weather, but, as it happens, we also use weather-related terms to talk about other things as well. These sayings are part of our everyday lexicon, often without us even realizing their connection to sun, rain, wind, or snow. Which of these 12 do you use …
A Smokin’ Hot Game Can Be A “Barn Burner”
by Kevin Burton The NCAA Final Four is Saturday. Those of us with no favorite teams playing, merely hope for close games. In honor of March Madness, Merriam-Webster has looked into the origin of the idiom “barn-burner.” I have mostly heard this refer to football, but it could apply to basketball as well. …
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Twelve Idioms That Came From The Bible
by Dictionary Scoop Many common phrases we use today are direct quotes from the Bible. They have slipped seamlessly into everyday conversation, often with little thought to their origins. Which of these sayings do you use? 1-Drop in the Bucket The phrase “a drop in the bucket” refers to something very small or insignificant compared …
Can True Love Be Found At A Flea Market?
by Kevin Burton The Burtons love a good farmer’s market. And the local weather has been conducive to attending the outdoor version. So this could happen pretty soon. Sign us up! A farmer’s market of course, is the much yummier first cousin of a garage sale. But what of a flea …
A “Knocker-Upper” Isn’t What You Think It Is
by Dictionary Scoop Social, economic, and technological changes, along with the emergence of new consumer habits, have led to the disappearance of certain jobs that were once popular and profitable. Here is a list of ten English words describing occupations and professions that are rare or have become obsolete: 1-Alewife Did you know that women …
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A Name For Nobodies (Like Me) On The Net
by Kevin Burton Have I been snickering up my sleeve a bit as Merriam-Webster slings names at various miscreants? Well, what goes around, comes around. This is the third and final post looking at “A Handy Guide to Ruffians, Rapscallions, Cads and More, 22 Charming Words for Nasty People” published by the …
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