Showing posts with label Etymology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Etymology. Show all posts

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Origin of What?


'X' is a word taken from the name of Y (in the picture),a British statesman who was so fond of gambling that he was reluctant to get up from the table for a meal. Instead he asked for something which we call 'X' now.Identify X and Y.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Etymology Quiz

Shakespeare used the word 'X' to refer to a theater and in the 17th century there was theater in London with that name. From Henry V :

Can this 'X' hold The vastie fields of France? Or may we cramme Within this Woodden O, the very Caskes That did affright the Ayre at Agincourt?

In the 18th century, 'X' entered naval jargon, denoting the junior officer quarters on the lowest, or orlop, deck of a ship that doubled for the surgeon’s hospital during battle. Presumably, this was because the midshipmen, like roosters, would get into fights with one another. From William Falconer’s 1769 An Universal Dictionary of the Marine:
'X' of a ship of war, the apartments of the surgeon and his mates, being the place where the wounded men are dressed.
In 1914, the term was applied to airplanes.So the literal sense gave way to a naval metaphor, which was later applied to airplanes. Which word's origin are we talking about?

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Etymology Quiz

This is a scene from a 1921 play and is noted for introducing a word in English language.Which word?
Also What is the name of this play?

About Me

Currently student of NIT,Warangal doing Mechanical Engineering.I did my schooling from Loyola School,Trivandrum. My interests include quizzing,music and chess.I like watching movies and I play violin.