This is a post about weird.
I know, I know, there’s enough weird going around these days . . . but this weird is quite fun. Yeah, you guessed it–it’s about words, our favorite pastime here at TKZ. Specifically, about where words come from. (And I’m not talking cave walls…)
And with a nod to Garry’s fun post from yesterday, there are no Swedish words here. 🙂
I ran across this website that might just tickle your where-did-that-word-come-from fancy.
I’m going to give you, voila!, three words whose origins are definitely over-the-top funny and unique. Here we go:
Just call me Wally…
WALRUS–The walrus is an undeniably funny-looking animal. It’s got a droopy, hangdog kind of face, grumpy-old-man whiskers, and two ludicrous-looking tusks. (No offense to any walruses who may be reading this.)
So, it seems fitting that walrus also has a funny origin story: it may literally mean “whale-horse.” Well, maybe.
Anyway, even if it’s not strictly true, the story goes that walrus comes from Dutch. Walvis means “whale” and ros means “horse.” Put it together and a walrus is a “whale-horse.” Which, if you look at this absurd animal, seems like a fitting name for it.
That wasn’t me!
FIZZLE–to make a hissing or sputtering sound, especially one that dies out weakly.” You know what the word originally meant? “To pass gas,” probably in that manner where you’re trying to stifle it. (Don’t pretend you don’t know what we mean.)
And, last but not least . . .
Look like anyone you know?
BONKERS—Bonkers is a funny-sounding word. It’s a humorous, softer, informal way to say “crazy” or “nuts.” Its origins aren’t clear, but bonkers is first recorded as British naval slang for “a bit drunk” in the 1940s—perhaps acting as if someone has bonked, or hit, them on the head.
So, TKZers, go ahead and find your own weird word origins, and maybe share them with us to make us snort in our cuppas!
Weird origins indeed for walrus, as it looks not even remotely like a whale & for sure not even close to looking like a horse. Although Mr Walrus looks very distinguished in his own right. He reminds me more of a wizened old man that you’d sit on the porch with and get sage advice.
Hi Brenda!
Agreed…I think I had a ninth grade algebra teacher who looked like that wizened old man that you’d sit on the porch with and get sage advice from. Somewhat smaller than Mr. Walrus, though, as I recall. 🙂
Thanks for checking in this morning!
Onomatopoeia – a word that sounds like what it’s describing. Like…
From Merriam-Webster: “Flibbertigibbet is one of many incarnations of the Middle English word flepergebet, meaning “gossip” or “chatterer” (others include flybbergybe, flibber de’ Jibb, and flipperty-gibbet). It is a word of onomatopoeic origin, created from sounds that were intended to represent meaningless chatter.”
Hi Debbie!
I still remember my 8th grade English teacher waxing eloquent about the meaning of “onomatopoeia”. (And that word showed up on our next spelling test–ouch!)
We had to come up with our own examples and the result of that was hilarious–especially amongst the boys. As we know, boys of that age have a fixation on *ahem* bodily functions. She finally had to tell the boys we were done with the discussion and we moved on to something tame, like the proper usage of commas.
I really like your example. I also like gobsmack. Kinda sounds like it means, huh?
Have a great day!
Interesting topic.
Dipso facto: Latin for “because someone is drunk.” as in “when he ran into the stop sign, he was cited for DUI, dipso facto.”
Q: What’s the difference between an entomologist and an etymologist?
A: An etymologist is someone who knows the difference between an entomologist and an etymologist.
Good morning to you, J!
Okay, just finished cleaning up my desk after snorting my coffee! 🙂
These are great–good job! “Dipso facto”…when I worked in our local sheriff’s department, I never once saw that on a police report. I think it could, maybe, find a home there!
Thanks for stopping by and have a good weekend.
Of gratis legal assistance for unpleasant indigents: pro bozo
And next time we’ll cover the legal term used to describe when the po-leece have got some really good {stuff} on you as evidence.
Of gratis legal assistance for unpleasant indigents: pro bozo!
Love it, J!
🙂
Fun post, Deb!
Gobsmacked: British in Origin. Flabbergasted, astounded; speechless or incoherent with amazement.
Combines gob (face) and smacked.
Earliest known usage was the 1930s.
Hi Dale!
I hadn’t read your comment before using gobsmack on Debbie’s. Truly a star word in it’s own right. Is there an Oscar for cool words? Should be!
Have a great day, my friend…
I love gobsmacked! Around here we use whopperjawed when something is topsy-turvey, especially our lives…
Hey Patricia!
“Whopperjawed”. Now that is a great word!
Take it apart at the seams, and you get “a mouth open so wide in astonishment you could fit an entire Whopper Burger in all at once”, right? What a visual! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by and adding to the fun…
Fun topic, Deb!
I went looking for a new weird word, and here’s what I came up with:
Nudiustertian: adjective: Of or relating to the day before yesterday. ETYMOLOGY: From Latin nudius tertius, literally, today is the third day.
I thought it might be an alien from another planet who doesn’t know the dress code on Earth.
Hi Kay–awesome word, my friend!
And your definition is way more fun than the real one. I can see Spielberg directing a movie with those scary Nudiustertians invading earth. And how would we defeat them? Make them wear clothes from Hollywood! They’d die from shame on the spot!
I’d better stop…I’m getting weird word vibes from somewhere–out there. 🙂
Thanks for the good word, Kay!
I’m pretty sure they have nudiustertians at the botanic garden near us here.
🙂 🙂 🙂
Too funny…
A simple one. During the early Recency period, the term for a mushroom was a mushrump. It was often a term to mean those who are sycophants to noble people. As in, a mushrump that feeds off the roots of a mighty oak. A pity the word changed.
Mornin’, Marilyn!
We have mushrumps all over the place under our pine, fir, maple, and poplar trees on our property. I agree–wish the word hadn’t changed. I could apply mushrump to the 2024 versions of those sycophants you mentioned (self-seeking, servile flatterers; fawning parasites according to Webster) with whom we must deal. They know who they are. 🙂
Have a great day, Marilyn…