%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20id%3D%22Layer_1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20684.6%2068.1%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%20684.6%2068.1%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cg%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20d%3D%22M444.1%2C29.3h-17.4v14.5h17.4V29.3z%20M36.4%2C68.1l29.3-50.8V0H50.4L32.9%2C36.8L15.5%2C0H0v68.1h16.7V45.8l12.4%2C22.3H36.4z%0A%09%09%20M49.1%2C68.1h16.6V23.4L49.1%2C52.1V68.1z%20M76.6%2C68.1h45V53.8H93.3V41.6h21V27.1h-21V14.8h28.3V0.1h-45V68.1z%20M175.6%2C68.1h17.3v-68%0A%09%09h-16.5v40.3L150%2C0.1h-17.6v68h16.7V27.7L175.6%2C68.1z%20M235.8%2C14.8h15.4V0.1h-47.4v14.7H219v53.2h16.8V14.8z%20M290.3%2C45.9h-17.1%0A%09%09l7.5-15.6h2L290.3%2C45.9z%20M298.7%2C68.1h18l-32.2-68h-5.7l-32%2C68h18l3.3-7.1h27.1L298.7%2C68.1z%20M325.2%2C68.1h46.2V53.8h-29.6V0.1h-16.7%0A%09%09V68.1z%20M423.7%2C14.8h27.2V0.1H407v68h16.7V14.8z%20M462%2C68.1h46.2V53.8h-29.6V0.1H462V68.1z%20M564.8%2C34.1c0%2C10.7-7.2%2C19.2-18.5%2C19.2%0A%09%09c-11.4%2C0-18.5-8.5-18.5-19.2s7.1-19.2%2C18.5-19.2C557.6%2C14.9%2C564.8%2C23.4%2C564.8%2C34.1%20M580.6%2C34.1c0-19-14.2-34-34.3-34%0A%09%09c-20.2%2C0-34.3%2C15-34.3%2C34c0%2C19%2C14.1%2C34%2C34.3%2C34C566.4%2C68.1%2C580.6%2C53.1%2C580.6%2C34.1%20M604.8%2C20.5c0-4.1%2C3.3-6.2%2C6.7-6.2%0A%09%09c4.4%2C0%2C6.6%2C3%2C6.6%2C6.6h14.7C631.8%2C9.1%2C625.1%2C0.1%2C611%2C0.1c-12%2C0-21.7%2C9.3-21.7%2C20.6c0%2C10.9%2C5.9%2C15.9%2C16.7%2C19.8%0A%09%09c5.2%2C1.8%2C11.5%2C3.2%2C11.5%2C8c0%2C3.3-2.4%2C5.5-6.4%2C5.5c-3.6%2C0-6.6-3-6.6-6.7h-15.2c0%2C11.5%2C7.9%2C20.8%2C21.8%2C20.8c12%2C0%2C21.6-9.3%2C21.6-20.6%0A%09%09c0-10-5.3-16.4-16.7-19.8C610.6%2C26.1%2C604.8%2C25.3%2C604.8%2C20.5%20M670%2C20.9h14.7C683.8%2C9.1%2C677.1%2C0.1%2C663%2C0.1c-12%2C0-21.7%2C9.3-21.7%2C20.6%0A%09%09c0%2C10.9%2C5.9%2C15.9%2C16.7%2C19.8c5.2%2C1.8%2C11.5%2C3.2%2C11.5%2C8c0%2C3.3-2.4%2C5.5-6.4%2C5.5c-3.6%2C0-6.6-3-6.6-6.7h-15.2c0%2C11.5%2C7.9%2C20.8%2C21.8%2C20.8%0A%09%09c12%2C0%2C21.6-9.3%2C21.6-20.6c0-10-5.3-16.4-16.7-19.8c-5.4-1.6-11.3-2.4-11.3-7.2c0-4.1%2C3.3-6.2%2C6.7-6.2C667.7%2C14.4%2C670%2C17.3%2C670%2C20.9%0A%09%09%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
How Coronavirus and 31 Other Infectious Diseases and Viruses Got Their Names
‘Coronavirus’ is named for how it looks under a microscope, but that’s not the only way to name a virus or disease.
ETYMOLOGY
New Research Shows That the Word Leprechaun Has Latin Roots
The name for the classic St. Patrick’s Day tricksters comes from a very weird ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia.
Meet the Two Women Who Give Prescription Drugs Their Generic Names
The Chicago-based women name about 200 generic drugs per year, and the naming process is very scientific … sometimes.
Why Do People Say "Jesus H. Christ," and Where Did the "H" Come From?
Where did people get the idea that Jesus had a middle name? Well, Mark Twain has a funny story about that.
What's the Difference Between a Rabbit and a Hare?
They're both cute and fluffy with big ears, but that's where the similarities end. It gets even more complicated when bunnies and jackrabbits are thrown into the mix …
7 Common Words With Little-Known Relatives
When some words hit the big time, they left clunky related words behind.
The West Wing Could Be Getting a Reboot
What's next?
The Origins of 12 Silly-Sounding Compound Words
The game of hopscotch has nothing to do with little kids skipping over glasses of Johnnie Walker. What is going on?
Why Do We Call a Leg Cramp a Charley Horse?
It might have something to do with baseball in the late 1800s.
Supper vs. Dinner: Is There a Difference?
They're not completely interchangeable.
The Curious Origins of 16 Common Phrases
Chances are, you use some of these expressions in conversation frequently—maybe even every day. But where do they come from, anyway?
21 Phrases You Use Without Realizing You're Quoting William Shakespeare
An incredible number of lines from William Shakespeare's plays have become so ingrained in modern vernacular that we no longer recognize them as lines from plays at all.
How 9 Honolulu Neighborhoods Got Their Names
Most of its neighborhood names aren’t in English—and they all have colorful stories.
How Bacons (as in People Named Bacon) Have Helped Shape Western Culture
Bacons have shaped American cities, influenced presidents, and given us an enduring parlor game.
'Fake' Etymology: The Story Behind One of the Dictionary’s Most Intriguing Words
The story behind one of today's big buzzwords goes all the way back to the secret slang of early 19th century criminals.
7 Animals With Grand Mythological Names
Like proud parents, scientists often give their discoveries the biggest, most impressive names they can think of.
15 Common Expressions Younger Kids Won't Understand
Here are 15 etymologies to answer the questions of future English speakers. Because the future is already here.
How the Philadelphia Suburbs Got Their Names
Many of Philadelphia’s suburbs have been around since before the American Revolution, and some are even as old as Pennsylvania itself. But how did they get their names?
Where Does The Phrase "Nice Guys Finish Last" Come From?
The Origins of 62 Last Names
'Smith' is an Old English name that was given to those who worked with metal. It's probably related to a word that meant "to strike." Where does your last name come from?
From Y'all To Youse: 8 English Ways to Make "You" Plural
Lots of languages have distinct plural forms for "you." Wouldn't it be useful if English had one too?
12 Animals Whose Names Etymologically Describe Them
Now the names for these creatures big and small make total sense.
What Are Smithereens?
“Blown to smithereens” is such a great, colorful phrase. Almost everyone knows exactly what you mean, without being able to define what exactly a smithereen is. What the heck are they?
How Did Caesarean Sections Get Their Name?
Named after the great Roman emperor, Julius Caesar, yet he was not the first baby born by the procedure.