

Paul Anthony Jones
Joined: Jun 20, 2014
Paul Anthony Jones is a writer and musician from Newcastle upon Tyne. He is the author of word origins guide Haggard Hawks and Paltry Poltroons, and runs its tie-in Twitter account @HaggardHawks.




Why is purple associated with royalty? The answer dates back thousands of years to an incredibly expensive dye made from sea snails.
Believe it or not, these jobs from the Middle Ages still exist in 2026.
The childhood nickname had a surprisingly simple origin.
Discover the enchanting island that brought the world of Anne Shirley and Green Gables to life.
The phrase “pie in the sky” has a surprisingly dark history. Learn how labor activist Joe Hill coined the expression in a song in 1911.
The Queen guitarist called the feline who inspired "All Dead, All Dead" the "closest" thing he had to a sibling.
Why are basketballs orange? Learn how the familiar color came about and why it replaced the dark brown balls once used in the sport.
Your guide to English terms as you watch the new season of ‘Ted Lasso.’
Why do we say “two peas in a pod” to describe things that are nearly identical? The expression dates back centuries—and peas are the perfect comparison.
Here's how the Sirens of the 'Odyssey' helped inspire the name of the modern siren, which was first invented around the turn of the 19th century.
You probably say these words every day without realizing they were born in the Middle Ages.
From hearths and looms to combs and ear picks, discover eight everyday household items that helped Viking families cook, work, and live.