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This ancient symbol, also called the Staff of Hermes, depicts two snakes intertwining around a stick that is capped by wings. It’s used as a medical logo, but for almost all its roughly 5000-year history, the caduceus had nothing to do with medicine. 

A new study finds that residents of Dublin, Belfast, and Glasgow were better at detecting fake accents than their counterparts in southern areas of England—possibly as a result of long-ago conflicts.

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

See if you can spot the laudable lexicography of these famous writers.

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

Let’s sort these babies out.

Use these obscure terms to describe (or diss) the bad guy in your life.

The popular nursery rhyme may have emerged in the 14th century—and it didn’t have anything to do with bathing.

This common phrase is often used during times of political uncertainty, and has even been described as an ancient Chinese curse. History says otherwise, though.

Are all these new slang terms confusing you? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Some state name origins are obvious—but others pose an etymological mystery.

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?