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.

British Rock Band Queen Posing Backstage in New York, May 1974

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.

Jason Sudeikis and Tanya Reynolds in ‘Ted Lasso.’

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.

Displays showing the life of the Vikings in the Viking Museum of Borg on Vestvagoy Island, Norway.

From hearths and looms to combs and ear picks, discover eight everyday household items that helped Viking families cook, work, and live.

'The Surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown.'

The white flag has symbolized surrender for centuries, but its use wasn’t random. Discover why white became the color of capitulation.

Did you know these everyday words can be traced back to Roman gods, legends, and ancient myths?

From blacksmiths to cowboys, these essential jobs defined everyday life on the rugged frontier.

The half-goat, half-man deity Pan was associated with springtime, fertility, hunting, farming, shepherds, flocks, meadows, the wilderness, and fear. Here's how Pan helped shape the word "panic."

Pioneer Covered Wagon with Oxen, Early American Victorian Engraving, 1868

The animal that dominated the Oregon Trail wasn't the one most people expect.

Paul Anthony Jones

Joined: Jun 20, 2014

5 Medieval Jobs That Never Really Disappeared

Why Robert De Niro Was Nicknamed “Bobby Milk” as a Kid

The Real Island That Inspired 'Anne of Green Gables'

Why Do We Say "Pie in the Sky"?

The Queen Song Brian May Wrote About Losing His Childhood Cat

Why Are Basketballs Orange?

The Origins of 5 Soccer Terms You Might Hear on ‘Ted Lasso’

Why Do We Say "Two Peas in a Pod"?

The Greek Myth Behind Why an Alarm is Called a “Siren”

10 Medieval Words You Use Every Day

8 Household Items Every Viking Family Owned

Why Are White Flags Waved to Surrender?

10 Roman Mythology Words You Use Every Day

10 Most Common Jobs in the American Frontier Era

The Greek Myth Behind the Word Panic

Why So Many Pioneer Families Chose Oxen Over Horses