| The wearer of this wouldn't likely know that its name goes back to a Scottish scholar & his followers after he fell out of favor |
a dunce cap |
200 |
June 22, 2022 |
| Derived from a Russian word, it can mean immense, or a prehistoric elephantine beast |
mammoth |
600 |
June 22, 2022 |
| From Greek for "grace", it's a certain magnetism or charm shown by leaders or movie stars, for example |
charisma |
800 |
June 22, 2022 |
| As it was often used for upper-story bedrooms, the name of this 6-letter window style that projects out is from Latin for "to sleep" |
dormer |
1000 |
June 22, 2022 |
| Bad air was thought to cause this disease, so it was given a name meaning "bad air"; it's caused by parasites |
malaria |
|
June 22, 2022 |
| This term for a vast collection of stars, gas & dust is from the Greek for "milk" |
galaxy |
200 |
January 28, 2022 |
| This synonym for agreement comes from Latin for "together" & "heart" |
concord |
400 |
January 28, 2022 |
| The name of this head covering for Muslim women comes from the Arabic for "to cover" |
hijab |
600 |
January 28, 2022 |
| The name of this popular pet comes from the Germans, who add "rad", meaning wheel, to describe a tedious routine |
a hamster |
800 |
January 28, 2022 |
| From the French, where it means "origin", it's the chain of ownership of an artwork |
provenance |
1000 |
January 28, 2022 |
| This fish & rice dish is derived from a Japanese word for sour |
sushi |
200 |
January 27, 2021 |
| Before it was used for a musical work, this 4-letter word meaning "work" was used by the Romans to designate construction |
opus |
400 |
January 27, 2021 |
| As Bill & Ted probably wouldn't know, one story says this 5-letter word originally described a device to create counterfeit coins |
bogus |
600 |
January 27, 2021 |
| This building material was once made with coal refuse & ash; hence its name |
a cinder block |
800 |
January 27, 2021 |
| Now meaning "behaving badly", this adjective comes from a word meaning "nothing" |
naughty |
1000 |
January 27, 2021 |
| Surdus, a word for "deaf", gave us this word that means "illogical" |
absurd |
200 |
October 8, 2020 |
| This adjective for mocking laughter comes from a word describing something from Sardinia |
sardonic |
400 |
October 8, 2020 |
| This 9-letter word for "assistant" meant someone who dealt with confidential material |
secretary |
600 |
October 8, 2020 |
| A voluntary action done by monarchs, this word originally meant to disinherit a child |
abdicate |
800 |
October 8, 2020 |
| This word for ill feelings between people originally referred to a bitter taste |
acrimony |
1000 |
October 8, 2020 |
| (Kelly shows an animation of the solar system on the monitor.) The name of this type of heavenly body comes from the Greek for "wanderer", because all eight wander during the year against the background of fixed stars |
planet |
200 |
December 11, 2018 |
| This word for a type of contest began in mock battles as groups rotated in unison to attack the opposition |
tournament |
400 |
December 11, 2018 |
| This term for a fool or jokester is from the Italian for "to puff" |
a buffoon |
600 |
December 11, 2018 |
| With its characters made up of wedges, this ancient writing system's name means "wedge-shaped" |
cuneiform |
800 |
December 11, 2018 |
| This word, from French words for "carry" & "cloak", is itself a compound rather than one of the things it describes |
portmanteau |
1000 |
December 11, 2018 |
| From French words meaning "defense against a fall", it slows your fall when you jump from a plane |
a parachute |
200 |
November 9, 2018 |
| It may be Greek to you, but this type of organization for female college students gets is name from the Latin for "sister" |
a sorority |
400 |
November 9, 2018 |
| With large reflective eyes that seem to glow in the dark, this primate has a name meaning "ghost" or "specter" |
a lemur |
800 |
November 9, 2018 |
| Jeans, blue or otherwise, owe their name to this Italian city |
Genoa |
1000 |
November 9, 2018 |
| From the name of a Germanic people, it's criminally destroying or damaging someone's property |
vandalism |
|
November 9, 2018 |
| Cheers to you if you know that this potent potable derives its name from the Russian word for "water" |
vodka |
200 |
May 17, 2017 |
| From the Middle Dutch word for "ship" comes this term for the captain of a small ship or boat |
skipper |
400 |
May 17, 2017 |
| The name of this spirit is from the German for "rattle" & "ghost" |
a poltergeist |
600 |
May 17, 2017 |
| From the Arabic for "to make known", it's a tax imposed by a government on imported or exported goods |
tariff |
800 |
May 17, 2017 |
| Bacteria comes from a Greek word meaning "small stick"; this related word goes back to the Greek for "small" & "life" |
microbe |
1000 |
May 17, 2017 |
| This place where alcoholic drinks are sold is derived from a slightly shorter, "fashionable" French word |
saloon |
200 |
June 10, 2016 |
| From Latin for "cleanse", it's the place where one's soul is cleansed before entering heaven |
purgatory |
400 |
June 10, 2016 |
| Often eaten with eggs at breakfast, it comes from Latin for "dry" or "parch" |
toast |
600 |
June 10, 2016 |
| From a word for "apple", it's a bag of aromatic substances placed in a dresser drawer |
pomander |
800 |
June 10, 2016 |
| In Dutch it meant "household effects"; its meaning as goods taken by force during a war dates to the 1640s |
plunder |
1000 |
June 10, 2016 |
| From the Latin for "last", it's a final demand |
an ultimatum |
200 |
March 30, 2016 |
| The first "nerd" was probably the creature seen here, named by this author in his 1950 book "If I Ran the Zoo" |
Dr. Seuss |
400 |
March 30, 2016 |
| The Latin for "footprint" is related to this word in the name of a federal bureau |
investigation |
600 |
March 30, 2016 |
| A wealthy person who controls a government, it comes from the Greek for "wealth", not a dwarf planet |
plutocrat |
800 |
March 30, 2016 |
| In 1630 Governor William Bradford gave this group a name meaning "strangers"; it came into common use much later |
the Pilgrims |
1000 |
March 30, 2016 |
| From the Latin for "kidnapping", it's stealing the ideas or writings of another & passing them off as your own |
plagiarism |
200 |
November 1, 2013 |
| The name of this official Chinese language comes from the Sanskrit for "counselor" |
Mandarin |
400 |
November 1, 2013 |
| Before it had instrument readouts, it was a panel that kept mud from splashing into horse-drawn vehicles |
a dashboard |
600 |
November 1, 2013 |
| The name of this small magnifying glass used by jewellers is from a French term for a flawed gem |
a loupe |
800 |
November 1, 2013 |
| In mythology it's the shield of Zeus; it also means protection or sponsorship |
aegis |
1000 |
November 1, 2013 |
| This form of big-guy wrestling takes its name from the Japanese for "mutual strike" |
sumo |
200 |
October 10, 2012 |
| (Kelly of the Clue Crew presents the clue.) From the Latin for "piece of felt", it's the process of separating a solid out of a liquid using a membrane |
filter (or filtration) |
400 |
October 10, 2012 |
| This adjective meaning "evil" comes from the Latin for "left hand" |
sinister |
600 |
October 10, 2012 |
| This word meaning an hour to be home comes from the French for "cover the fire" |
a curfew |
800 |
October 10, 2012 |
| This condiment gets its name from the Chinese for "pickled fish brine" |
ketchup |
1000 |
October 10, 2012 |
| The name of this heavy hooded jacket favored by skiers & hunters is from the Russian for "pelt" |
a parka |
200 |
May 1, 2012 |
| A ship in the desert? No, it's just this optical illusion from the French for "to look at" |
a mirage |
400 |
May 1, 2012 |
| This term for one who willfully destroys another's property comes from the name of a Germanic tribe |
a vandal |
600 |
May 1, 2012 |
| Used to describe stately mansions of the old south, it's from the Latin for "before the war" |
antebellum |
800 |
May 1, 2012 |
| The general agreement is that this word meaning a majority of opinion is from the Latin for "to feel together" |
a consensus |
1000 |
May 1, 2012 |
| This adjective that can mean disrespectful or lively is an alteration of "saucy" |
sassy |
200 |
December 20, 2011 |
| This, from Middle French for "small ball", is stronger than the bullet, which is from modern French for "small ball" |
the ballot |
400 |
December 20, 2011 |
| First appearing more than a century ago, it means gutsy & is probably a blend of bold & audacious |
bodacious |
600 |
December 20, 2011 |
| This 19th century 2-wheeled cab was named for a Brit, not for its good looks |
a Hansom cab |
800 |
December 20, 2011 |
| This nickname for paper measuring 13 by 16 inches gets its name from an old watermark of a court jester's hat |
foolscap |
1000 |
December 20, 2011 |
| Aka hump day, it was named for a Norse god |
Wednesday |
200 |
June 27, 2011 |
| The Persian shaghal gave us the name of this dog-like African carnivore & scavenger |
the jackal |
400 |
June 27, 2011 |
| The word "drama" comes from the Greek for this verb, which as a noun also means one section of a drama |
act |
600 |
June 27, 2011 |
| The name of this gum tree comes from the Greek kaluptein, or "cover", & it covers more than 500 species |
the eucalyptus |
1000 |
June 27, 2011 |
| Peevish or unreasonably irritable, it's from the Latin petere, meaning "to assail" |
petulant |
|
June 27, 2011 |
| This part of an egg gets its name from the Old English for "yellow" |
the yolk |
200 |
May 16, 2008 |
| This season gets its name from the Sanskrit for "half year" |
summer |
400 |
May 16, 2008 |
| The opposite of nadir, it's from the Arabic for "road above" |
zenith |
600 |
May 16, 2008 |
| The name of this element is from the Latin word for "lime", the chemical kind |
calcium |
800 |
May 16, 2008 |
| The name of this musical instrument comes from Greek words for "wood" and "voice" |
the xylophone |
1000 |
May 16, 2008 |
| The name of this, also called a fireplug, is partly from a word for "water" |
a hydrant |
200 |
February 12, 2008 |
| The name of this bread spread goes all the way back to bous, a Greek word for "cow" |
butter |
400 |
February 12, 2008 |
| These sparkly fake gems are partly named for a river that flows through Germany |
rhinestones |
600 |
February 12, 2008 |
| This 5-letter synonym of "question" comes from the Latin for "to ask" or "to seek" |
a query |
1000 |
February 12, 2008 |
| The name of this type of reference work is from the Greek for "cyclical" (i.e., well-rounded) & "education" |
an encyclopedia |
|
February 12, 2008 |
| The name of these bones that form the spinal column comes partly from a word meaning "to turn" |
vertebrae |
200 |
May 11, 2007 |
| This, a personal view or belief, comes from the Old French for "to think" |
an opinion |
400 |
May 11, 2007 |
| The name of this class of cold-blooded creatures comes from a word for "to creep" |
the reptile |
600 |
May 11, 2007 |
| This dog breed's name comes from a German word for "to splash about" |
the poodle |
800 |
May 11, 2007 |
| Appropriately, this adjective that means the giving of one's name to something comes from the Greek for "giving name" |
eponymous |
|
May 11, 2007 |
| This kind of dummy often displays women's clothes, though its name comes from the Dutch for "little man" |
mannequin |
200 |
December 28, 2006 |
| This musical instrument's name may be influenced by "hurly-burly", a Scots word meaning "uproar". |
hurdy-gurdy |
600 |
December 28, 2006 |
| This type of tower is usually seen in Asia, but its name comes from a Portuguese word for "temple" |
pagoda |
800 |
December 28, 2006 |
| The name of this almond paste confection is derived in part from an Italian word for "candy box" |
marzipan |
1000 |
December 28, 2006 |
| (Sarah of the Clue Crew helps with an image on a monitor.) The pair of Greek letters seen here inspired this eight-letter English word that's a cornerstone of the English language |
alphabet |
|
December 28, 2006 |
| This lawn weed's name comes from the old French for "tooth of the lion", referring to its sharply indented leaves |
a dandelion |
200 |
February 8, 2006 |
| This word for a self-service restaurant evolved from the Spanish for "coffee shop" |
a cafeteria |
400 |
February 8, 2006 |
| Latin for "within the walls", it refers to athletic contests among students within a school |
intramural |
600 |
February 8, 2006 |
| The name of this foamy volcanic rock is an alteration of the Latin word meaning "foam" |
pumice |
1000 |
February 8, 2006 |
| Originally one who kept legal records for the crown, now it's a public officer who investigates deaths |
a coroner |
|
February 8, 2006 |
| The name of these seeds probably goes all the way back to samassammu, Akkadian for "oil plant" |
sesame seeds |
200 |
January 10, 2006 |
| This fox-hunting cry may be an alteration of taiaut, a French cry used in deer hunting |
tally-ho |
400 |
January 10, 2006 |
| A Middle English variant of "plait" became the name of these folds found on skirts |
pleat |
600 |
January 10, 2006 |
| A Greek word for "sailor" gave us the name of this "chambered" sea creature |
nautilus |
800 |
January 10, 2006 |
| This term for a minor engagement in war traces its origins back to the old Italian word scaramuccia |
a skirmish |
1000 |
January 10, 2006 |
| This common term for a weak, ineffectual person may be derived from "whimper" |
wimp |
200 |
September 26, 2005 |
| This word said to sled dogs may be an alteration of the French marchons, meaning "let's go" |
mush |
400 |
September 26, 2005 |
| Billingsgate, a term for foul language, comes from the name of an old fish market in this world capital |
London |
600 |
September 26, 2005 |
| From the Latin for "mother", it's a female prison worker who may be less than maternal |
matron |
800 |
September 26, 2005 |
| Take a whirl on the dance floor under these lights whose name comes from the Greek for the "act of whirling" |
strobe lights |
1000 |
September 26, 2005 |
| The English borrowed this Tongan word for "forbidden" & made it a noun referring to the prohibition itself |
taboo |
200 |
March 22, 2005 |
| The name for this type of worker comes from the Latin for "lead worker" |
plumber |
400 |
March 22, 2005 |
| This word used in Roman Catholic theology comes from the Latin for "edge" or "border", not "dance" |
limbo |
600 |
March 22, 2005 |
| (Sarah of the Clue Crew reports from Naxos, Greece.) Ostraka, broken pieces of pottery used as ballots to recommend exile gave us this word for banishment |
ostracism |
800 |
March 22, 2005 |
| This word for a prolonged state of sadness comes from the Greek for "black bile" (once thought to be it's cause) |
melancholy |
1000 |
March 22, 2005 |
| This light wood gets its name from the Spanish for "raft" because people in the tropics have used its logs for rafts |
balsa |
200 |
November 22, 2004 |
| The gigantic statue at Rhodes, one of the 7 ancient wonders, gave us this adjective meaning gigantic |
colossal |
400 |
November 22, 2004 |
| Originally used to designate an errand boy, it was introduced into Scotland by golfer Mary, Queen of Scots |
a caddy |
600 |
November 22, 2004 |
| The Greek word "iota" gave us this 3-letter word that means to write down hastily |
jot |
800 |
November 22, 2004 |
| They got their name from the wooden sandals worn by the French court to protect shoes on rainy days |
galoshes |
1000 |
November 22, 2004 |
| A masterful conductor is often called this, Italian for "master" |
maestro |
200 |
October 5, 2004 |
| The name of this bird is from the French version of Peter |
parrot |
400 |
October 5, 2004 |
| Make no bones about it, it's from a Greek expression for "dried-up body" |
skeleton |
600 |
October 5, 2004 |
| This Austrian physicist's name is now synonymous with a measurement of the speed of sound |
(Ernst) Mach |
800 |
October 5, 2004 |
| This 3-letter slang term for forbid or veto comes to us from the German for "nothing" |
nix |
1000 |
October 5, 2004 |
| The name of this colorless Russian spirit is a diminutive of the Russian word for "water", itself a colorless liquid |
vodka |
200 |
April 19, 2004 |
| It was derived from 3 German words that meant "secret state police", & that certainly describes it |
the Gestapo |
400 |
April 19, 2004 |
| (Sarah of the Clue Crew in Alaska) From the Old French for "crack", this V-shaped crack in a glacier may be up to 150 feet deep |
crevasse |
600 |
April 19, 2004 |
| First launched on October 4, 1957, its name is Russian for "fellow traveler" |
Sputnik |
800 |
April 19, 2004 |
| People who cultivated this fruit often used to make wine were said to live to a ripe old age; hence its name |
elderberry |
|
April 19, 2004 |
| Once a carnival performer who bit the heads off chickens, today it often refers to a computer nerd |
geek |
200 |
May 31, 2002 |
| This snug-fitting one-piece garment used by dancers was invented by, & named for, a French aerialist |
leotard |
400 |
May 31, 2002 |
| This disease's name is from the Italian for "bad air"; it was first thought to be caused by foul swamp air, not mosquitoes |
malaria |
600 |
May 31, 2002 |
| From a word meaning "gift" Yale's passed the $10 billion mark in 2000 |
endowment |
800 |
May 31, 2002 |
| Self-examination; literally, "a looking into oneself" |
introspection |
1000 |
May 31, 2002 |
| This animal term for a football official is derived from the patterned shirt that he wears |
zebra |
200 |
February 19, 2002 |
| This word that can mean "scanty" comes from the Latin spargere, "to scatter" |
sparse |
400 |
February 19, 2002 |
| Urdu for "dusty", this olive drab cloth was first used in the uniforms of the British army in India in 1857 |
khaki |
600 |
February 19, 2002 |
| (Jimmy of the Clue Crew presents from a sail boat.) Derived from Italian, this word refers to a boat race or series of races. |
regatta |
800 |
February 19, 2002 |
| This word often used as a toast comes from the Old Norse for "drinking vessel" |
skoal |
1000 |
February 19, 2002 |
| An old French word for "thicket" gave us this word for something tossed by a bride |
Bouquet |
100 |
December 2, 1998 |
| From a Provencal word for "witch", it's a sports team's good-luck symbol |
Mascot |
200 |
December 2, 1998 |
| This word for a swinging cot is derived from Spanish & from the Taino language of the West Indies |
Hammock |
300 |
December 2, 1998 |
| From middle English & Latin for "toward" & "to climb", one does it to a staircase or the throne |
Ascend |
400 |
December 2, 1998 |
| From old English for a male servant or a boy, it's a synonym for a jack in a deck of cards |
Knave |
500 |
December 2, 1998 |
| This word entered the English language in the 13th century as "sucre" |
Sugar |
100 |
September 30, 1998 |
| Jeans were named for this Italian city where a strong twilled cotton cloth was made |
Genoa |
200 |
September 30, 1998 |
| From the Greek nostos, "A return home", & algos, "pain", it's the pain you experience when remembering |
Nostalgia |
300 |
September 30, 1998 |
| Greek for "wood sound", this instrument's name refers to its tuned wooden bars |
Xylophone |
400 |
September 30, 1998 |
| Originally, it referred to a boisterous, rude lad, not a young girl who behaves like a lad as it does now |
Tomboy |
500 |
September 30, 1998 |
| The Middle French word for this freshwater crustacean was "crevice", which evolved into our English word |
crayfish |
100 |
February 12, 1998 |
| This 19th century vehicle seen here was named for its designer, not its good looks |
the Hansom Cab |
200 |
February 12, 1998 |
| This primrose's name comes from the Old English for "cow slime" & sounds pretty similar |
cowslip |
300 |
February 12, 1998 |
| This game in which players pick up sticks or straws is named for a leader of Wat Tyler's Rebellion |
jackstraws |
400 |
February 12, 1998 |
| Whether it's "English" or not, the name of this nut comes from Old English for "foreign nut" |
walnut |
500 |
February 12, 1998 |
| The name of this skirt isn't Scottish in origin; it may come from the Danish for "to tuck up" |
Kilt |
100 |
December 13, 1996 |
| This term for a broad street is French, but it goes back to bolwerc, a Middle Dutch word for bulwark |
Boulevard |
200 |
December 13, 1996 |
| The adjective vespertilian means resembling this winged mammal, whose Latin name is vespertilio |
Bat |
300 |
December 13, 1996 |
| This fruity condiment's name comes from the Hindi meaning "to be licked" |
Chutney |
400 |
December 13, 1996 |
| The name of this small magnifying glass used by jewelers comes from the French for an imperfect gem |
Loupe |
|
December 13, 1996 |
| Local or general, this medical term comes from Greek meaning "insensibility" |
anesthesia |
100 |
November 25, 1996 |
| The name of this type of popular music combines "hillbilly" & "rock & roll" |
rockabilly |
200 |
November 25, 1996 |
| This word is derived from "self-contained underwater breathing apparatus" |
Scuba |
300 |
November 25, 1996 |
| This term for a chance spectator innocently came into our language by 1620 |
Bystander |
400 |
November 25, 1996 |
| This word for any of the 10 Arabic number symbols comes from the Latin word for "finger" |
Digit |
500 |
November 25, 1996 |
| This term for a policeman comes from the Latin comes stabuli, an officer of the stable |
constable |
100 |
October 15, 1996 |
| The name of this Florida site is an alteration of the Spanish cayo huesa "island of bones" |
Key West |
200 |
October 15, 1996 |
| From the Greek kubernao, "to direct a ship", it became someone who directs a ship of state |
governor |
300 |
October 15, 1996 |
| Thomas Jefferson helped coin this word for a certain coin; he got it from the French word for "tenth" |
dime |
400 |
October 15, 1996 |
| From the Latin per, "through", & ager, "field", comes this long word for wandering |
peregrination |
500 |
October 15, 1996 |
| This synonym for enormous comes from the name of a famous elephant exhibited by P.T. Barnum |
Jumbo |
100 |
April 8, 1996 |
| Llama & quinine are among the words derived from Quechua, the language of this ancient empire |
the Incan Empire |
200 |
April 8, 1996 |
| The name of this black & white bearlike mammal is believed to be a native Nepalese word |
panda |
300 |
April 8, 1996 |
| From Japanese for "flowers kept alive", it's the Japanese art of flower arranging |
<i>ikebana</i> |
500 |
April 8, 1996 |
| Popular sports equipment whose name is from Old Norse for "sticks of wood" |
skis |
|
April 8, 1996 |
| A poem composed as a lament for the dead, its name comes from elegos, "mournful song" |
elegy |
100 |
October 17, 1995 |
| A keepsake, its name comes from meminisse, "to remember" |
memento |
200 |
October 17, 1995 |
| The name of this blue dye flows back to the Indus River |
indigo |
300 |
October 17, 1995 |
| This dance's name is derived from Polish meaning "from the province of Mazovia" |
mazurka |
400 |
October 17, 1995 |
| The name of this flowering plant may come from a name of the god Apollo, Paion |
the peony |
500 |
October 17, 1995 |
| Ukulele came to us from this language |
Hawaiian |
100 |
September 28, 1995 |
| An institution for the treatment of chronic diseases, its name comes from sanus, "healthy"' |
sanitarium |
200 |
September 28, 1995 |
| A place for storing food, its name comes from the Latin word for bacon, lardum |
larder |
300 |
September 28, 1995 |
| The Persian word isfanakh grew into our word for this leafy vegetable |
spinach |
400 |
September 28, 1995 |
| Enology comes from oinos, Greek for this beverage |
wine |
500 |
September 28, 1995 |
| This word for an old-fashioned person may come from an old British term for a ragged fellow, duddy fuddiel |
a fuddy-duddy |
100 |
May 24, 1995 |
| A marshy area in which peat is found, its name is akin to a Gaelic word for "soft" |
a bog |
200 |
May 24, 1995 |
| Cajole comes from cajoler, a verb in this language meaning "to chatter like a jaybird" |
French |
300 |
May 24, 1995 |
| The name of this kind of ray, also called the devilfish, is derived from Spanish for "cape" or "blanket" |
a manta ray |
400 |
May 24, 1995 |
| "Colorful" term for ladies with literary leanings, from the type of hosiery they once wore |
blue stockings |
500 |
May 24, 1995 |
| The name of this spider comes from the Italian city of Taranto |
a tarantula |
100 |
May 3, 1995 |
| The name of this style of Jamaican music comes from "rag" |
reggae |
200 |
May 3, 1995 |
| This word for a permanent body decoration is Polynesian in origin |
a tattoo |
300 |
May 3, 1995 |
| This term for a danger may come from az-zahr, Arabic for a gaming die |
hazard |
400 |
May 3, 1995 |
| Old Norse raptr, meaning "beam", gave us the name of this flat, floating craft |
a raft |
500 |
May 3, 1995 |
| The word nerd may come from a character in this children's author's "If I Ran the Zoo" |
Dr. Seuss |
100 |
February 13, 1995 |
| The Algonquin word pocohiquara gave us the name of this hardwood tree |
hickory |
200 |
February 13, 1995 |
| The Latin caedere, "to cut", gave us the name of this 2-bladed snipping implement |
scissors |
300 |
February 13, 1995 |
| This unit of length equal to 1,760 yards comes from the Latin for "thousand" |
the mile |
400 |
February 13, 1995 |
| This word for the science that deals with food & nourishment comes from the Latin meaning "to suckle" |
nutrition |
500 |
February 13, 1995 |
| This term for a flower worn in a buttonhole is literally French for "buttonhole" |
Boutonniere |
100 |
November 24, 1994 |
| Judo is Japanese for "soft way" & this self-defense form is Japanese for "soft art" |
Jiu-Jitsu |
200 |
November 24, 1994 |
| The word chime comes from the name of this other percussion instrument |
Cymbal |
300 |
November 24, 1994 |
| From a Greek word meaning "to speak ill of", it's irreverent talk of God |
Blasphemy |
400 |
November 24, 1994 |
| The name of this Russian urn used to heat water for tea is Russian for "self-boiler" |
Samovar |
500 |
November 24, 1994 |
| This type of kidney bean got its name because it was a staple food of U.S. sailors |
a navy bean |
100 |
July 22, 1994 |
| This name for an enclosed shopping center can be traced back to a 17th c. ball & mallet game |
a mall |
200 |
July 22, 1994 |
| The name of this house of Congress comes from the Latin for "old" |
the Senate |
300 |
July 22, 1994 |
| A type of Asian temple, its name goes back to the Sanskrit bhagavat |
a pagoda |
400 |
July 22, 1994 |
| This royal title comes from Ancient Egyptian meaning "great house" |
pharaoh |
500 |
July 22, 1994 |
| A synonym for labyrinth, it comes from the Old English word masian, meaning "'to confuse" |
maze |
100 |
February 16, 1994 |
| The Greek for "flat-footed" gives us the name of this duck-billed mammal |
the platypus |
200 |
February 16, 1994 |
| A partial wig used to cover baldness, its name comes from Old French for "tuft of hair" |
a toupee |
300 |
February 16, 1994 |
| The name of this bed pad comes from the Arabic taraha, meaning "to throw" |
a mattress |
400 |
February 16, 1994 |
| The name of this type of legislative body comes from French for "to talk" |
parliament |
|
February 16, 1994 |
| Not surprisingly, the word koala comes from a native language of this continent |
Australia |
100 |
May 20, 1993 |
| This word meaning something not fully understood is from the Greek musterion, "secret rite" |
mystery |
200 |
May 20, 1993 |
| The name of this 2- or 3-toed mammal comes from Middle English for "slow" |
a sloth |
300 |
May 20, 1993 |
| This title of prince Siddhartha comes from Sanskrit for "awakening" |
Buddha |
400 |
May 20, 1993 |
| Lepos, meaning "scale", gave us this word for a pariah |
leper |
500 |
May 20, 1993 |
| The name of this raised platform where actors stand comes from the Latin meaning "to stand" |
the stage |
100 |
May 4, 1993 |
| Elly May Clampett might know that this word for an animal is an alteration of "creature" |
critter |
200 |
May 4, 1993 |
| The name of this Islamic month of fasting is from an Arabic word meaning "heat" |
Ramadan |
300 |
May 4, 1993 |
| This ballet term for a full turn of the body on tiptoe is from Middle French for "spinning top" |
a pirouette |
500 |
May 4, 1993 |
| The name of this bone extending from the elbow to the wrist is from Latin for "elbow" |
the ulna |
|
May 4, 1993 |
| This word for a woman's handbag comes from the Greek for "leather", of which they are often made |
a purse |
100 |
April 28, 1993 |
| This type of cherry was named for a Chinese farmer in Oregon, not for a famous crooner |
a bing |
200 |
April 28, 1993 |
| The name of this weasel & its fur comes from Armenius mus, Latin for "Armenian rat" |
an ermine |
300 |
April 28, 1993 |
| This wooden cudgel takes its name from a town in southeastern Ireland |
a shillelagh |
400 |
April 28, 1993 |
| From the French for "something fried", types include apple, corn & clam |
a fritter |
500 |
April 28, 1993 |
| This term for a copy or reproduction is from the Latin meaning "to make similar" |
facsimile |
100 |
April 2, 1993 |
| December, decimal & decimate all come from the Latin word for this |
ten |
200 |
April 2, 1993 |
| Some believe the word gimmick began as gimac, an anagram of this |
magic |
300 |
April 2, 1993 |
| This sport derives its name from the word association, as in association football |
soccer |
400 |
April 2, 1993 |
| Meaning vain & above oneself, this adjective comes from the Middle French for "high" |
haughty |
|
April 2, 1993 |
| The name of this small metal fingercap is derived from an Old English word for thumb |
Thimble |
100 |
November 19, 1992 |
| The name of this military horn comes from the Latin for "young ox" since the first ones were ox horns |
Bugle |
200 |
November 19, 1992 |
| From Arabic for "old man", it's the leader of an Arab family, tribe, or village |
sheik |
300 |
November 19, 1992 |
| This mammal's name comes from the corruption of a French phrase which meant "phony pig" |
Porcupine |
400 |
November 19, 1992 |
| This term for a person who bowls is derived from the German word for "bowling pin" |
Kegler |
500 |
November 19, 1992 |
| Motel is actually derived from two words: hotel & this |
motor |
100 |
October 7, 1992 |
| This unit of measurement abbreviated dB was named for Alexander Graham Bell |
a decibel |
200 |
October 7, 1992 |
| Originally a charity bequest, this word for a small amount of money comes from Latin for "piety" |
a pittance |
300 |
October 7, 1992 |
| From the Greek for "without bottom", it's a bottomless gulf or the ocean's depths |
an abyss |
500 |
October 7, 1992 |
| Palestine derived its name from this ancient people who lived in the region |
the Philistines |
|
October 7, 1992 |
| It's the nickname of a $10 bill, because the Roman numeral X on it looked like a sawhorse |
sawbuck |
100 |
September 15, 1992 |
| The name of this breed of dog comes from the Low German for "puddle dog" |
poodle |
200 |
September 15, 1992 |
| This term for the poisonous secretion of a snake comes from Latin for "poison" |
venom |
300 |
September 15, 1992 |
| Grade of black tea whose name comes from Chinese meaning "white dawn" |
pekoe |
400 |
September 15, 1992 |
| The name of this dense-pile fabric comes from the Latin villus, meaning "shaggy hair" |
velvet |
500 |
September 15, 1992 |
| This lighter-than-air craft derives its name from the Latin word for "to direct" |
dirigible |
100 |
July 6, 1992 |
| This term for a person who travels on foot comes from the Latin word for "foot" |
pedestrian |
200 |
July 6, 1992 |
| This term for a crazy or foolish person comes from the Latin word for "moon" |
lunatic |
300 |
July 6, 1992 |
| From the name of Plato's school, it's a school that offers special instruction |
academy |
400 |
July 6, 1992 |
| This word meaning "of the utmost importance" comes from the Latin word "crux" or cross |
crucial |
500 |
July 6, 1992 |
| "Grenade" comes from the name of this fruit, which the Romans called an "apple with seeds" |
pomegranate |
100 |
March 25, 1992 |
| From Latin for "cookery", it's the characteristic manner or style of preparing food |
cuisine |
200 |
March 25, 1992 |
| It's from the Old English & originally meant a piece of carbon glowing without fire |
coal |
300 |
March 25, 1992 |
| From the name of a 16th C. hangman, this word is now used for any machine that hoists |
derrick |
400 |
March 25, 1992 |
| This flower is so named because it's "flesh-colored" |
carnation |
500 |
March 25, 1992 |
| Though it comes from a Latin word meaning "whitish", it refers to a reddish-brown hair color |
auburn |
100 |
March 18, 1992 |
| The term "Shavian" was coined by this writer to describe his life, works & ideas |
George Bernard Shaw |
200 |
March 18, 1992 |
| Because they were too young or inexperienced for the cavalry, foot soldiers came to be called this |
infantry |
300 |
March 18, 1992 |
| From the Latin word for "soul", it means to bring to life, like a cartoon |
animate |
400 |
March 18, 1992 |
| The two units of measure that derive their names from the Latin word "uncia" |
ounce & inch |
500 |
March 18, 1992 |
| Mark Twain should have known the name of this fruit may be an alternation of âhurtleberryâ |
huckleberry |
100 |
October 17, 1991 |
| The name of this âtuxedoedâ bird may come from the Welsh for âwhite headâ |
a penguin |
200 |
October 17, 1991 |
| Evangelical Protestant sect named for its founder, Menno Simons |
the Mennonites |
300 |
October 17, 1991 |
| Almond paste confection whose name comes from a Medieval Italian coin |
marzipan |
400 |
October 17, 1991 |
| Sorority is derived from the Latin âsororâ, which means this |
sister |
500 |
October 17, 1991 |
| From the Old French for "crib", it's a representation of a Nativity scene |
a crèche |
100 |
September 26, 1991 |
| From Old English for "One that breaks faith", it's a male witch |
a warlock |
200 |
September 26, 1991 |
| This term for a little angel often depicted as a rosy-cheeked child comes from Hebrew |
a cherub |
300 |
September 26, 1991 |
| From Sanskrit meaning "Great Queen", it's the wife of a Majarajah |
a Majarani |
400 |
September 26, 1991 |
| Our word "bog" probably came from this language; it helps if you think of peat bogs |
Gaelic |
500 |
September 26, 1991 |
| This insect's name may derive from a belief that witches shaped like them flew around stealing butter |
butterfly |
100 |
July 3, 1991 |
| The name of the marimba may derive from Kimbundu, a Bantu language of this continent |
Africa |
200 |
July 3, 1991 |
| This word for scowl is derived from the Old Irish "sron" which means nose |
frown |
300 |
July 3, 1991 |
| A Middle English word for a small horse gave us this term for a favorite pastime |
hobby |
400 |
July 3, 1991 |
| An Italian word meaning cool & fresh gave us the name of this art of painting on plaster |
fresco |
500 |
July 3, 1991 |
| This word for an obnoxious person or a troublesome animal is a variation of vermin |
a varmint |
100 |
May 8, 1991 |
| This Catholic celebration of the eucharist comes from the Latin for "to send" |
the mass |
200 |
May 8, 1991 |
| Type of toll road that comes from Middle English for "spiked barrier" |
a turnpike |
300 |
May 8, 1991 |
| Number of points for each team in a contest, it comes from Old Norse for 20 & also means 20 |
the score |
400 |
May 8, 1991 |
| Breed of chicken named for a famous American landing site |
Plymouth Rock |
500 |
May 8, 1991 |
| From the Greek "nostos", return & "algia", pain, it's the slight pain you feel remembering |
nostalgia |
100 |
October 29, 1990 |
| The Congolese word "nguba" gave us this nickname for a peanut |
a goober |
200 |
October 29, 1990 |
| Whiskey named for a county in Kentucky whose county seat is Paris |
bourbon |
300 |
October 29, 1990 |
| This term for the landing of a spacecraft on water came into vogue in the '60s |
splashdown |
400 |
October 29, 1990 |
| From the French for "man", it's a ceremony of paying or expressing respect for a person |
homage |
500 |
October 29, 1990 |
| From the Turkish word for towel, "makrama", it's the art of tying cords in a pattern |
macramé |
100 |
September 7, 1990 |
| From the Greek meaning "upon a tomb", it's an inscription upon a tomb |
an epitaph |
200 |
September 7, 1990 |
| This verb, meaning "to travel or roam for pleasure", may be an alteration of "gallant" |
gallivant |
300 |
September 7, 1990 |
| A fine goat skin leather tanned with sumac or the North African country for which it's named |
Moroccan (Morocco) |
400 |
September 7, 1990 |
| This word for a priest of an ancient Celtic religion is akin to an Old Irish word for "wizard" |
Druid |
500 |
September 7, 1990 |
| An alteration of triumph, don't do it to your partner's ace in a bridge game |
trump |
100 |
July 17, 1990 |
| The English word salary derives from the Latin "salarium", which was a payment of this seasoning to soldiers |
salt |
200 |
July 17, 1990 |
| This term for favoring relatives when assigning jobs is from the Latin for "nephew" |
nepotism |
300 |
July 17, 1990 |
| The African name we use for this insect that causes sleeping sickness means "fly that destroys cattle" |
tsetse |
400 |
July 17, 1990 |
| From the French for "petticoat", it's a lively dance with intricate steps, or a debutante ball |
cotillion |
500 |
July 17, 1990 |
| This flower, whose name is from Persian for "turban", was introduced to Holland in the 16th century |
tulip |
100 |
May 30, 1990 |
| This word for a little sin is a diminutive of the Spanish "pecado", sin |
peccadillo |
200 |
May 30, 1990 |
| This other name for the U.S. mafia is Italian for "our affair" |
cosa nostra |
300 |
May 30, 1990 |
| From German for "busybody", it's to look over a person's shoulder & offer advice |
kibbitz |
400 |
May 30, 1990 |
| The name of this delicate often lacy, design in metalwork came from the Latin for "thread" & "grain" |
filigree |
500 |
May 30, 1990 |
| This name for an earthenware beer mug is German for "stone" |
Stein |
100 |
May 14, 1990 |
| Italian for "first lady", it can refer to a temperamental woman or man |
Prima donna |
200 |
May 14, 1990 |
| From the Latin for "worm", it's defined simply as "animals obnoxious to man" |
Vermin |
300 |
May 14, 1990 |
| From the Latin for "hunger", it's a period when food is extremely scarce |
Famine |
400 |
May 14, 1990 |
| This Scottish cap was named for the hero of a Robert Burns poem |
Tam O\' Shanter |
500 |
May 14, 1990 |
| Many Roman emperors lived on the Palatine Hill, hence this word for a stately mansion |
palace |
100 |
February 12, 1990 |
| A skydiver who's prepared to fall might know the name of this apparatus means "to protect from a fall" |
parachute |
200 |
February 12, 1990 |
| The "berg" in "iceberg" is the German & Dutch word for this |
mountain |
300 |
February 12, 1990 |
| Meaning idealistic & impractical, this word comes from the name of Cervante's idealistic hero |
quixotic |
400 |
February 12, 1990 |
| From the French for "bundle", it's the bride's clothing & linens that she brings to her new household |
trousseau |
500 |
February 12, 1990 |
| "Saloon" came from this French word, which sounds more elegant |
salon |
100 |
November 14, 1989 |
| Shade of purple whose name comes from a word for mallow because it's the color of mallow petals |
mauve |
200 |
November 14, 1989 |
| Derived from the Greek for "to sell alone"; if you have one, you alone sell a product |
monopoly |
300 |
November 14, 1989 |
| The "chop" in "chopsticks" means this in Pidgin English, as in "chop-chop" |
hurry (or quick or fast) |
400 |
November 14, 1989 |
| This synonym for "gloomy" comes from a Medieval Latin term for "evil days" |
dismal |
|
November 14, 1989 |
| The "acu" in acupuncture comes from the Latin for these instruments used in acupuncture |
needles |
100 |
February 17, 1989 |
| A large tomb is called this because of the majestic one built for King Mausolus in the 4th cent. B.C. |
a mausoleum |
200 |
February 17, 1989 |
| Originally made in Nimes, France, this fabric was called serges de Nimes |
denim |
300 |
February 17, 1989 |
| This rodent's name comes from Middle French for "spiny pig" |
a porcupine |
400 |
February 17, 1989 |
| From the Latinized form of his last name, a "Shavian" is a fan of this man |
Bernard Shaw |
500 |
February 17, 1989 |
| Frenchman Marcel Grateau's contribution to coiffures |
the Marcel Wave |
100 |
January 11, 1989 |
| The slang word "bodacious" was created by blending "bold" & this word |
audacious |
200 |
January 11, 1989 |
| Capricorn comes from "capri" meaning goat & "cornu" meaning this part of the goat |
the horn |
300 |
January 11, 1989 |
| From the old phrase "alack the day" came this adjective for lacking spirit |
lackadaisical |
400 |
January 11, 1989 |
| Preservation technique whose name comes from the Greek words for "arrangement" & "skin" |
taxidermy |
500 |
January 11, 1989 |
| This costume piece, worn by a stripper, may derive from "groin", which is where it's worn |
g-string |
100 |
December 6, 1988 |
| Will Rogers used this expression to mean "aw, it's nothing", like the outer covering of an ear of corn |
shucks |
200 |
December 6, 1988 |
| From Latin, "to crucify", it describes the kind of pain inflicted by that form of execution |
excruciating |
300 |
December 6, 1988 |
| Meaning "noise & confusion", it's a contraction of Bethlehem, a London lunatic asylum |
bedlam |
400 |
December 6, 1988 |
| An old name for flax prepared for spinning, it now refers to someone with very blond or flaxen hair |
towhead |
500 |
December 6, 1988 |
| The adjective "ruddy" comes from the Old English "rudig", meaning this color |
red |
100 |
November 17, 1988 |
| It's a French word meaning "Dutch," and in English it usually refers to a sauce |
hollandaise |
200 |
November 17, 1988 |
| From the Latin for shield, "scutum," it's a shield bearing a coat of arms |
escutcheon |
300 |
November 17, 1988 |
| An Arabic word for "poor" gave us this term for a Muslim or Hindu beggar said to have mystical powers |
fakir |
400 |
November 17, 1988 |
| Named for a town in France, this sheer net fabric is used to make bridal veils & tutus |
tulle |
500 |
November 17, 1988 |
| This piece of moviemaking equipment was named for electricians John & Anton Kliegl |
Klieg light |
100 |
October 26, 1988 |
| A church seen in the distance was the original finish site for this type of horse race |
steeplechase |
200 |
October 26, 1988 |
| Type of orange so named because Chinese officials wore robes of a similar color |
Mandarin orange |
300 |
October 26, 1988 |
| Tyrolean garment whose name is short for the German for "girl dress" |
dirndl |
400 |
October 26, 1988 |
| Accessory whose name comes from Old Italian, meaning "to shield the sun" |
parasol |
500 |
October 26, 1988 |
| Not surprisingly, this pink bird's name comes from Spanish for "flaming" |
flamingo |
100 |
May 10, 1988 |
| This word for a heathen comes from the Latin "pagi", who were just country folk |
pagan |
200 |
May 10, 1988 |
| The word for this fish is probably from the German "schurke", meaning rascal |
shark |
300 |
May 10, 1988 |
| Word classifying the Milky Way, from the Greek word for milky |
galaxy |
400 |
May 10, 1988 |
| From the Latin "proponere" come these 2 words, one an honorable offer, one an indecent suggestion |
proposal & proposition |
500 |
May 10, 1988 |
| Theatrical genre whose name is derived from a French valley known for its songs, Vau-de-Vire |
vaudeville |
100 |
December 30, 1987 |
| Cinderella probably never knew that this vehicle was named for a Hungarian village, Kocs |
coach |
200 |
December 30, 1987 |
| A masterful conductor might be called this from the Latin "magister" meaning master |
maestro |
300 |
December 30, 1987 |
| This consomme was named for the city of Madrid |
madrilene |
400 |
December 30, 1987 |
| The German name for these pipes means "sea foam", perhaps because they are white when new |
meerschaum |
500 |
December 30, 1987 |
| = |
= |
100 |
December 15, 1987 |
| = |
= |
200 |
December 15, 1987 |
| = |
= |
300 |
December 15, 1987 |
| = |
= |
400 |
December 15, 1987 |
| = |
= |
500 |
December 15, 1987 |
| It used to mean sweetheart, but now refers to that big fifth grader who picked on you |
bully |
100 |
November 17, 1987 |
| The word manage goes back to the Latin "manus", the word for this part of the body |
hand |
200 |
November 17, 1987 |
| This word for pal is said to be Oxford University slang for chamberfellow; a roommate |
chum |
300 |
November 17, 1987 |
| This word for boss or head is from a Japanese word meaning squad leader |
honcho |
400 |
November 17, 1987 |
| From Old English "nay", no, and "whit", thing, this word means zero |
naught |
500 |
November 17, 1987 |
| Anglo-Saxons called this animal a "coppe", & its web was known as a "copweb" |
the spider |
100 |
September 10, 1987 |
| Name of this shoulder ornament derives from "epaule", French for "shoulder" |
an epaulet |
200 |
September 10, 1987 |
| From Arabic verb "gharafa", meaning "to draw water", comes this word for a glass bottle |
a carafe |
300 |
September 10, 1987 |
| The Latin verb "colorare", to color, inspired this term for a musically colorful soprano |
<i>coloratura</i> |
400 |
September 10, 1987 |
| This word for someone with ESP comes from the Greek for soul, "psukhe" |
psychic |
500 |
September 10, 1987 |
| Blankets soldiers carried in these were made of wool from town of Duffel, Belgium |
duffel bags |
100 |
June 4, 1987 |
| Showing skin that looks like the undyed leather of, say, a buffalo, led to this term for naked |
stripped to the buff |
200 |
June 4, 1987 |
| Different levels of a building are called these because scenes of tales were painted on the various levels |
stories |
300 |
June 4, 1987 |
| Hybrid variety of cotton named for the Arizona county where it was developed |
Pima |
400 |
June 4, 1987 |
| A pandering politician, though in ancient Greece this person championed the common people |
demagogue |
500 |
June 4, 1987 |
| After appearing in a film based on Kipling's "The Vampire" T. Bara became 1st woman to be called this |
vamp |
100 |
January 7, 1987 |
| Consisting of many layers that make 1 sphere, this vegetable's name comes from "union" |
onion |
200 |
January 7, 1987 |
| Wives may be interested to know that this word is from Old English for "master of the house" |
husband |
300 |
January 7, 1987 |
| From Hebrew "shekar" meaning "strong drink", it's fruit juice that's become turned into strong drink |
cider |
400 |
January 7, 1987 |
| Our word "lumber" originally meant the collateral held by bankers from this part of Italy |
Lombardy |
500 |
January 7, 1987 |
| Imitation diamonds, they were originally gems obtained from a certain German river |
rhinestones |
100 |
November 21, 1986 |
| It's the pace at which pilgrims rode to Canterbury |
canter |
200 |
November 21, 1986 |
| The name of this game is Chinese for "house sparrow" a picture on one of the tiles |
mah-jong |
300 |
November 21, 1986 |
| An Irishman with this accent might be putting his foot in his mouth, because this word means "shoe" |
brogue |
400 |
November 21, 1986 |
| The name of this part of a camera was derived from its resemblance to a lentil seed |
lens |
500 |
November 21, 1986 |
| Brother Rezin, not Jim, invented this famous knife which carries the family name |
a Bowie knife |
100 |
April 11, 1986 |
| Some say this term for a kind of shopkeeper is from German for "Do you have that?", "Hab' ihr das?" |
a haberdashery |
200 |
April 11, 1986 |
| The English thought flavors of cinnamon, cloves & nutmeg were combined in the 1 spice they named this |
allspice |
300 |
April 11, 1986 |
| Plain cotton cloth used for sheets, originally made in Mosul, in what is now Iraq |
muslin |
400 |
April 11, 1986 |
| Describes someone important, based on the size of haircovering they wore |
a bigwig |
500 |
April 11, 1986 |
| Hot tub named for its inventor, Roy |
a Jacuzzi |
100 |
March 27, 1986 |
| One theory says it's an abbreviation for Martin Van Buren's nickname, Old Kinderhook |
OK |
200 |
March 27, 1986 |
| Though the Koran forbids its use, this liquid derives its name from the Arabic word "kohl" |
alcohol |
300 |
March 27, 1986 |
| From German "schlag", Yiddish word for merchandise of inferior quality |
schlock |
400 |
March 27, 1986 |
| From Latin "lacqueus", meaning a noose, a delicate fabric in an open pattern |
lace |
500 |
March 27, 1986 |
| The French "gauche" & Latin "sinister" both literally mean this disparaged direction |
left |
100 |
March 10, 1986 |
| Headache, from Greek "hemikrania" meaning "½ the head" |
migraine |
200 |
March 10, 1986 |
| From Latin for "the little book" Romans used to publicize enemies' faults, it's a term for defamation |
libel |
300 |
March 10, 1986 |
| Nickname for Flynn or Fairbanks that literally means "clashing" your "shield" |
a swashbuckler |
400 |
March 10, 1986 |
| Aimless scribbling, from German for "to play the bagpipe", which they considered an aimless pursuit |
doodling |
500 |
March 10, 1986 |
| = |
= |
100 |
November 25, 1985 |
| This "impertinent young person" once had nothing better to do than stand around snapping whips |
whippersnapper |
200 |
November 25, 1985 |
| "Chicanery" may have come from cheaters at "Chicane", a French variety of this Scottish sport |
golf |
300 |
November 25, 1985 |
| While Mr. is the abbreviation for mister, Mrs. is the abbreviation for this "lady of the house" |
mistress |
400 |
November 25, 1985 |
| French for "little park" it came to mean a special section of courtroom floor reserved for judges |
parquet |
500 |
November 25, 1985 |
| Though an insect larva, its name comes from French for âhairy catâ |
caterpillar |
100 |
November 19, 1985 |
| Word âslaveryâ comes from these eastern Europeans who were often enslaved by conquerors |
Slavs |
200 |
November 19, 1985 |
| Term for noisy dance or party which originally meant a kick in the shins |
shindig |
300 |
November 19, 1985 |
| From same root as âsenileâ, to Romans this body's name meant a council of old men |
Senate |
400 |
November 19, 1985 |
| Though John Duns Scotus was considered a great philosopher, his followers were later called this |
dunces |
500 |
November 19, 1985 |
| It means "dancing" in Hawaiian |
hula |
100 |
September 10, 1985 |
| Because they were taken down in small fast writing, notes of a meeting were called this |
minutes |
200 |
September 10, 1985 |
| From Spanish "juzgado", meaning courtroom, comes this nickname for jail |
the hoosegow |
300 |
September 10, 1985 |
| Meaning "cord fit for a king", it's now a fabric for us commoners |
corduroy |
400 |
September 10, 1985 |
| Scottish "twill" pronounced "tweel", was misread by a London cloth merchant & became this |
tweed |
500 |
September 10, 1985 |
| From French solider Nicolas Chauvin, who was steadfastly, loyal to Napoleon |
chauvinism |
100 |
March 4, 1985 |
| "Biblical" term for the thyroid cartilage that bulges in the throat |
Adam\'s apple |
200 |
March 4, 1985 |
| The tailor struck blind for having looked at Lady Godiva was 1st one of these |
peeping Tom |
300 |
March 4, 1985 |
| From Greek "kurpos", meaning "Cyprus", which was an ancient source of this metal |
copper |
400 |
March 4, 1985 |
| Term for total chaos derived from English asylum of St. Mary of Bethlehem |
bedlam |
500 |
March 4, 1985 |
| Hebrew word traditionally used to end the prayer |
amen |
100 |
September 19, 1984 |
| Running race named for battleground 26 miles from Athens |
the marathon |
200 |
September 19, 1984 |
| Though originally confused with Turkish guinea fowl, this bird's an American original |
a turkey |
300 |
September 19, 1984 |
| From the Arabic amir-al-bahr, meaning "commander of the sea" |
an admiral |
400 |
September 19, 1984 |
| The Irish call this drink uisce beatha, meaning "water of life" |
whiskey |
500 |
September 19, 1984 |
| Czechoslovakian for "Polish woman", both nations claim this dance |
the polka |
100 |
September 17, 1984 |
| The Dutch gave us the name for this drink the Chinese call cha |
tea |
200 |
September 17, 1984 |
| Early Indian word for a slow-burning stick, today a green-haired rocker |
punk |
300 |
September 17, 1984 |
| This Australian animal's name literally means "I don't know" |
kangaroo |
400 |
September 17, 1984 |
| Olympic participant, it means one who is naked while exercising |
gymnast |
500 |
September 17, 1984 |