- etymology - Where did the phrase batsh*t crazy come from? - English . . .
The word crazy is a later addition Scanning Google Books I find a handful of references starting from the mid-60s where batshit is clearly just a variation on bullshit (nonsense, rubbish) - which meaning still turns up even in 2001, but it's relatively uncommon now Here's a relatively early one from 1967 where the meaning is crazy A decade later most references have this meaning, but the
- etymology - If you can be discombobulated, is it possible to be . . .
That etymology’s a little off: the prefix is from Old French des-, from Latin dis-, a prefix derived from Latin dis 'apart, asunder' The original Latin sense survives in such words as disbud and dismember, in which the prefix is basically 'remove'
- etymology - Origin of the word cum - English Language Usage Stack . . .
What is the origin of the word cum? I'm trying to find the roots for its prevalent usage, especially in North America
- etymology - Why do people say buck for a dollar? - English Language . . .
The word has been in use in this sense since 1748 according to etymonline I would guess most currencies have changed their designs quite significantly since then, and the term likely didn't come from any design on a coin at all The fact that there happens to be a buck on the 1 rand coin is probably either coincidental or reversely causal: they could have put the buck on the coin because a
- etymology - What is the origin of the counting prefixes: uni-, bi- di . . .
You are correct, they are from Latin and Greek, we have simply inherited terms from both There is a good reference for Latin and Greek roots over at Wikipedia: Uni meaning one: un-, uni- one language of origin: Latin etymology: unus, unius examples: unary, union Bi Di meaning two: bi- two language of origin: Latin etymology: bis, "twice"; bini, "in twos" examples: binoculars, bigamy, biscotti
- etymology - What is the origin of the phrase ‘By the by. . . ’? - English . . .
5 By the by dates from the 1610’s (confirmed by Alenanno’s data), and the key (and originality) to its etymology is in the second by Etymonline says of by: Originally an adverbial particle of place, in which sense it is retained in place names (Whitby, Grimsby, etc ) Elliptical use for "secondary course" (opposed to main) in Old English
- etymology - What is the origin of the phrase playing hooky? - English . . .
What does the word "hooky" mean in the phrase "play hooky" (skipping class truancy) and where did it come from?
- etymology - What are the components of a word called? - English . . .
The etymology of the word parasol states that it arises "from para- (“to shield”) + sole (“sun”)" I would like to know what the two components, para and sole, are called in this example
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