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PODCAST

Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast.

Leon Bailey-Green

Word History is a podcast for people who enjoy words and history.Each episode takes a small set of words linked to a theme. You"ll hear what they mean, where they come from and which familiar words share the same linguistic roots, along with stories from the past related to their use.Listen for words that sharpen expression, and brief histories that show how ideas and practices, as well as language, took shape. Across an archive of more than a hundred episodes, you"ll find explanations of word, name

history

All Episodes

30:32

76. Diseases & Disorders | History Daily: Spanish Flu

Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast. ·

2025/03/09

This episode explores how diseases and disorders came to be named after people and places, tracing the origins of surnames, locations and the medical discoveries. Learn how Alzheimer's, Huntington's, Tourette's and Crohn's became part of medical terminology, and why Lyme, Ebola and Marburg are forever linked to illness. Plus, hear about the first reported case of the Spanish Flu in March 1918, in an episode from the History Daily podcast. Listen to the History Daily podcast: https://www.hist...

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13:55

75. Biscuits/Cookies

Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast. ·

2025/03/02

Starting with why Americans call cookies what the British call biscuits, this episode unpacks the etymology of biscuit related terms. Classic British biscuits like custard creams, digestives, Jaffa cakes, Hobnobs and Jammie Dodgers all have stories behind their names. Discover why the Garibaldi was named after an Italian general and the Bourbon after a royal house.

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14:07

74. Names: E

Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast. ·

2025/02/23

This episode traces the meanings and origins of names beginning with E. The biblical Elias is related to Joel and Elliott, while Elizabeth has given us variations like Elspeth and Elsie. The name Enzo has two distinct linguistic roots, including as a diminutive of Heinz, which stems from a form of Henry. Nature inspired names include Eden, used for both boys and girls (listen to discover the ratio), and Elowen, which has Cornish origins. Learn which African country widely embraces the name Eb...

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14:01

73. Mythology

Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast. ·

2025/02/16

This episode gets into the mythological roots that are embedded in our everyday vocabulary. From narcissism to nemesis to Achilles' heel, the tales of ancient societies shapes the way we speak. Explore the stories of Prometheus, Odysseus and Sisyphus and their corresponding terms promethean, odyssey and sisyphean. The Ship of Theseus theory finds surprising modern parallels in 'Trigger's broom' from Only Fools and Horses and the changing line-up of the girl group Sugababes. Also featured is w...

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15:31

72. Corporate Giants II: Digital Disruptors

Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast. ·

2025/02/09

In this episode we find out how digital disruptors got their names. From booking travel and managing money to exchanging clothing and finding partners, these websites and apps are at the forefront of innovation. Depop's name was first intended for a music blog, while eBay began its journey as AuctionWeb. Venmo's name stems from a playful twist on a Latin word and Monzo turned to its social media followers when it needed to rebrand. Also explored are the name origins of Lyft, Starling, VRBO an...

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15:45

71. Fancy Words

Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast. ·

2025/02/02

This episode uncovers fancy words that can add a touch of flair to your vocabulary. The word sanguine derives from a term meaning blood; Find out how it came to describe an optimistic disposition and its connection to the concept of senses of humour. Explore the origins of uplifting words like effulgent, ebullient and felicific, alongside the more sombre lugubrious. Listen to learn the meanings of quixotic, heteroclite and incongruent.

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15:24

70. Skincare

Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast. ·

2025/01/26

This time, we're peeling back the layers of skincare etymology. Discover the connection between salicylic acid and aspirin, and the sweet origins of glycolic acid. Iconic skincare brands like Nivea, Olay and Vaseline have stood the test of time. Nivea's name hints at the product's colour, while Vaseline's name blends German and Greek words.

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13:44

69. Pigs

Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast. ·

2025/01/19

This episode goes whole hog into the language of pigs, exploring the origins of terms like hog, farrow, shoat and boar. Discover why a gilt isn't just a government bond, and how an old word for the back of the knee gave us ham. Another pork-based joint traces its name to the French word for leg. Learn about the mix-up that sparked rumours of hot dogs containing canine meat, the difference between British and American pigs in blankets and how the Latin word scrofa, meaning pig, inspired the na...

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15:18

68. Christmas Gifts

Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast. ·

2024/12/15

This time, we're unwrapping etymology through the history of Christmas gifting. The word gift in both English and German comes from the same root, though in German it evolved to mean poison. Must-have toys often cause a frenzy, like Teletubbies and Tickle Me Elmo, with the word frenzy tracing back to an ancient Greek word that also gave us frenetic and schizophrenia. Chocolate advent calendars only became popular in the 1990s; the term advent derives from a Latin term meaning to come. Listen ...

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14:45

67. Television

Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast. ·

2024/12/08

In this episode, we tune in to the origins of television terms. TV broadcasts date back to the late 1920s, but the first remote control, a wired device called the "lazy bones", arrived in the 1950s. The phrase "jump the shark" originated from an episode of Happy Days in the 1970s, though it only gained popularity two decades later. The word binge started as Midlands (England) slang meaning to soak in water, evolving to mean over-drinking, and eventually extended to doing anything to excess, h...

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16:06

66. British Empire

Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast. ·

2024/12/01

This time, we're going around the world of words tied to the British Empire, from terms of governance like dominion, protectorate and territory to words describing those settling new lands, such as coloniser, imperialist and conquistador. Discover how Australia, Jamaica, Pakistan, Trinidad and America got their names, and learn about the English father-son duo behind the place names of Dalhousie across empire territories. Also explored is the link between the words pioneer and pawn, both trac...

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15:10

65. Names: Style Icons

Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast. ·

2024/11/24

This episode uncovers the etymologies behind the names of style icons from screen, stage, catwalk and beyond. Looking into Karl Lagerfeld's last name reveals the reason we call beer lager, while a cabaret song inspired Coco Chanel's iconic moniker. Lenny Kravitz's surname traces back to Slavic roots, and Rihanna's name has roots in either Welsh or Arabic. Grace Kelly's name was popularised by the Puritans, and Naomi Campbell's means pleasant. Listen for the name meanings of Audrey, Bowie, Twi...

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15:57

64. Pregnancy II

Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast. ·

2024/11/17

This episode delivers the origins of words related to pregnancy. IVF is a common term today, but early media reports often used the phrase test tube baby, which predates the 1970s when in-vitro fertilisation first emerged. Discover how the term folic, for the B vitamin, connects to the word for leaves, and why preeclampsia traces back to an ancient Greek word meaning light. We also explore pregnancy signs, including the components of the hormone detected by pregnancy tests, and how ancient Eg...

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16:31

63. Cleaning

Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast. ·

2024/11/10

In this episode, we scrub up the origins of cleaning-related words. The English towns of West Bromwich and Castle Bromwich share an etymology with a term for sweeping floors, while laundry has roots connected to lavatory. The phrase spick-and-span is believed to have nautical origins, just like the word squeegee. Learn who invented the vacuum cleaner, which was originally referred to a suction sweeper, and who bought the rights to it.

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15:51

62. Justice

Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast. ·

2024/11/03

This time, we're weighing the evidence behind the origins of words related to justice. The word dock is thought to trace back to a term for a chicken coop, while the Latin root of innocent links to the word noxious. Discover why we use the term panel for both jurors and conference speakers, and how adjourned is connected diary entries. We also examine the etymological roots of professional terms like attorney, lawyer and barrister.

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13:40

61. Contradicting Meanings II

Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast. ·

2024/10/27

This episode is all about words that are their own opposites. Clip can mean both to trim and to attach, while refrain can mean to hold back or to repeat something endlessly. We also explore words that have flipped meanings over time; egregious once meant remarkably good, but now means shockingly bad, and villain has undergone a similar transformation. Plus, we explore the paradoxical phrase "I'm lying right now".

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16:17

60. Names: Pop Queens

Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast. ·

2024/10/20

This time, we're hitting all the right notes as we explore the origins and meanings of names through the lens of female singers. Shania Twain, Celine Dion and Alanis Morissette share a distant relative, but only one of them carries a version of his surname. Kylie became a popular name in Australia, inspired by an Indigenous Australian word for a boomerang, while Beyoncé's name may trace back to the French word bois, meaning wood. We also uncover the fascinating origins of the names Ariana, Ch...

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14:11

59. Death

Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast. ·

2024/10/13

In this episode, we dig deep into the grave origins of words related to death. The term eulogy comes from ancient Greek and etymologically translates to 'good words' while euthanasia means 'good death'. An executor ensures that the wishes in a will are fulfilled, deriving from a Latin word meaning 'to follow', which also gives us the word sequence. Discover the surprising connection between cemetery and coma, and learn what popularised the idea of a bucket list.

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13:38

58. Autumn/Fall

Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast. ·

2024/10/06

This episode takes a look at the origins of autumn/fall related terms, from harvest and foliage to Halloween and the months September, October and November. Find out why the school year starts in September, when fireworks became an autumn tradition, and what was originally burned in bonfires. We also explore the autumnal colours of ochre, amber and maroon.

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14:43

57. Soft Drinks

Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast. ·

2024/09/29

This episode traces the origins of soft drinks, many of which began life marketed as health remedies. We start with Joseph Priestley's discovery, which was crucial to the production of carbonated drinks. Learn how Coca-Cola got its name from its historic ingredients, and how Red Bull is a translation of a Thai beverage. The term seltzer traces back to a German region, while the terms pop and fizz have more straightforward, if not obvious, etymologies. We also explore how the names Lucozade, V...

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116 results

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