Congratulations on being interested enough in words to look at this. Here is your reward: the words...
Dumbbell: A weight consisting of a short bar with a metal ball or disk at each end that is lifted for muscular development and exercise; Slang: A stupid person, a dolt.
Why it's interesting: sixteenth-century folk were very keen on bell-ringing as a form of exercise. Of course it was rather noisy, so they made mechanisms similar to bell-pulls but without the bells, hence "dumb-bell". When the campanology craze died out, the word was applied to other forms of exercise equipment.
Supercilious: Haughtily contemptuous; Zool. In names of various animals distinguished by a conspicuous stripe, process, etc. over the eye.
Why it’s interesting: The word comes from the Latin supercilium meaning ‘eyebrow’. I like the idea of a person being supercilious because they raise their eyebrows haughtily at you. Also, one confused man in 1658 thought it meant ‘having great eyebrows’!
Saloon: A type of motor car with a closed body for four or more passengers.
Why it's interesting: I find car names interesting! Autonymology, maybe?! This particular autonym developed from saloon cabins in boats or saloon carriages in trains, which were basically the swankier, larger compartments. This in turn developed from 'salon', meaning a "large and lofty reception room" (OED), which ultimately comes from the Italian for 'hall'.
Sedan: U.S. equivalent of 'saloon', a type of motor car with a closed body for four or more passengers.
Why it's interesting: I find car names interesting! 'Sedan' derives from 'sedan chair', an enclosed box on two poles that would be carried by lackeys. How this came to mean a type of car, I'm not sure. 'Sedan' itself is of obscure etymology - it is logical that it might derive from some variation of 'sede', the Italian for 'seat', since sedan chairs originated in Italy, but there is no evidence for this.
Hatch-back: an upward-opening rear door on a motor car (usually giving access to storage space which can be greatly increased by folding down the rear seat); a car having such a door.
Why it's interesting: it's not enormously interesting, to be honest. It's a simple amalgamation of 'hatch' and 'back'. To me, though, it conjures up images of chicks hatching out of the back of a car. Which is cute.
Estate car: a light saloon motor car specifically constructed or adapted to carry both passengers and goods.
Why it's interesting: I find the names of cars interesting. This one is particularly curious as I can find no reason or explanation why a car with an extended back end is an 'estate'. Maybe you drive round an estate on it, or carry your worldly goods round in the back! I am reliably informed that the U.S. term is 'station wagon', which was originally a covered wagon used to carry passengers from the train station to their hotels, so that makes no more sense, and apparently it was once called a 'shooting brake'!
Cabriolet: A motor car with fixed sides and a folding top; a soft-top, a convertible.
Why it's interesting: Car names are interesting! A cabriolet was originally a light two-wheeled chaise drawn by one horse, having a large hood of wood or leather, and an ample apron to cover the lap and legs of the occupant; the word itself derives from 'cabriole' which is from French, meaning a goat-like leap, and apparently it was appropriate because of the carriage's elastic, bounding motion. 'Cab' is also a contraction of 'cabriolet' - just imagine if all taxis were glamorous convertibles!
Sockdolager: A heavy or knock-down blow, a finisher; something exceptional in any respect, especially a large fish (19th century U.S. slang).
Why it's interesting: What a strange word! Apparently a fanciful formation - in other words, somebody just made it up...
Cravat: An article of dress worn round the neck, chiefly by men.
Why it's interesting: One of the very few words to enter the English language from Croatian. It is an application of the national name 'Cravate' meaning 'Croat', so called because they were worn in 17th century France in imitation of Croatian mercenaries.
Coquette: A woman (more or less young), who uses arts to gain the admiration and affection of men, merely for the gratification of vanity or from a desire of conquest, and without any intention of responding to the feelings aroused; a woman who habitually trifles with the affections of men; a flirt (overly long definition from the OED).
Why it's interesting: It's the feminine of the French 'coquet', meaning 'cocky'. I like the idea that boys are cocky and girls are flirty - very Molliere. It also sounds like croquette, but that's not the feminine of croquet!
Hypocoristic: Of the nature of a pet-name; pertaining to the habit of using endearing or euphemistic terms.
Why it's interesting: whoever would have guessed that there would be a fancy Greek word relating to pet names? It comes ultimately from the Greek for 'to play the child'.
Casuistry: The science, art, or reasoning of the casuist; that part of Ethics which resolves cases of conscience, applying the general rules of religion and morality to particular instances in which there appears to be a conflict of duties.
Why it's interesting: One of those cases where an affix can make all the difference. A casuist is, as the definition suggests, a theologian who studies and resolves cases of conscience, but this word on its own is more or less neutral. The prejudice comes with the '-ry' suffix, which suggests "the casuist's trade", putting it in a contemptuous bracket along with 'sophistry'; a more respectful term might have been 'casuism'. As this morphological sleight of hand indicates, 'casuistry' is often used to mean 'specious or excessively subtle reasoning intended to mislead'.
Phlegmatic: not easily excited to feeling or action; lacking enthusiasm; cold, dull, sluggish, apathetic; cool, calm, self-possessed.
Why it's interesting: in the Middle Ages and before, it was widely believed that the body was made up of four fluids or 'humours', and the names of each of these still persist to describe various temperaments. A preponderance of 'phlegma' was held responsible for lethargy and, of course, nasty mucus-y diseases.
Sanguine: disposed to hopefulness or confidence of success.
Why it's interesting: in the Middle Ages and before, it was widely believed that the body was made up of four fluids or 'humours', and the names of each of these still persist to describe various temperaments. Somebody stuffed full of blood was said to be 'sanguine', from the Latin word for blood, 'sanguin-, sanguis'. Sanguinity was indicated by a ruddy countenance and a courageous, hopeful, and amorous disposition. Although this sounds quite pleasant, people of sanguine complexion were believed to be susceptible to certain illnesses, so they were liable to be bled.
Melancholic: depressed, gloomy, mournful.
Why it's interesting: in the Middle Ages and before, it was widely believed that the body was made up of four fluids or 'humours', and the names of each of these still persist to describe various temperaments. 'Melancholia' was black bile, the name ultimately coming from the Greek 'melan-' meaning black and 'chole' meaning bile. A surfeit of this was thought to cause brooding anger and depression.
Saturnine: sluggish, cold, and gloomy in temperament.
Why it's interesting: one of the few astrological terms to make it into general usage. 'Saturnine' originally referred to someone born under the influence of the planet Saturn, which, astrologers claim, makes them gloomy; however it is more commonly used to mean the same but without any allusion to the interference of celestial bodies. I always remember this word because it is the perfect description of Eeyore...
Choleric: Inclined to wrath, irascible, hot-tempered, passionate, fiery: these being the characteristics of the choleric 'complexion' or temperament.
Why it's interesting: in the Middle Ages and before, it was widely believed that the body was made up of four fluids or 'humours', and the names of each of these still persist to describe various temperaments. 'Cholera' was bile, a superfluity of which caused bitter anger and bilious disorders.
Esquire: a young man of gentle birth, attendant on a knight; a man belonging to the higher order of English gentry, ranking immediately below a knight; as a title accompanying a man's name.
Why it's interesting: I have always found the English title system interesting. It is both flexible and rigid, since there are no laws (as such) to define what one must call oneself, but convention will only allow a certain degree of rule-bending. 'Esquire' is a case in point - while it originally applied to gentry and so was something you were born into, it is nowadays apparently a honorific that you can acquire. At some unknown point its application was extended, as a matter of courtesy, to all men who are regarded as ‘gentlemen’ by birth, position, or education. This is predominantly lawyers and public officials, but even these gents tend to use it sparingly, and only in offical circumstances. What I want to know is, at what point does your position or education pass into 'Esquire' territory? And do you decide, or does it suddenly and mysteriously start appearing on letters?
Ms: A title of courtesy prefixed to the surname of a woman, sometimes with her first name interposed (plural Mss).
Why it's interesting: It's most interesting because of the way the usage of this relatively new word seems to be changing. Firstly, I have noticed the pronounciation is moving away from 'mizz' and more towards 'muzz' (at least in England). Secondly, its application (again in England - can't speak for anywhere else) seems to be undergoing a subtle shift. It was popularised by the feminist movement as an alternative to 'Mrs' or 'Miss', with the argument that signalling a woman's marital status through her title is at best irrelevant and at worst discriminatory. However, I have noticed a shift away from these politicised origins; it is now commonly used by women who do not care for feminism but simply want to signal that they are not necessarily 'available', and their circumstances lie somewhere between the conventional 'Miss' and 'Mrs' situations. This includes unmarried mothers, whether or not they live with the father of their children, divorced or separated women who keep their married name, and women who are in a co-habiting relationship (usually those who also refer to their other half as their 'partner'); but this is by no means universal, or even accepted. Some 'Ms's no doubt still have political motives. I have noticed this especially in the junior members of the academic community, where women are very unlikely to have escaped some feminist influence. They also tend to be reluctant to relinquish the surname under which they have become known (however briefly), and they also have the unique advantage of a reasonable expectation that they can soon do away with that title altogether in favour of 'Dr'. The OED, despite a revised entry for 'Ms' in its new edition drafted in March 2003, has not picked up on the depoliticised aspects of its usage. This goes to show that English-speakers are still struggling to bend the language to accommodate the increasing number of lifestyles that are found acceptable to society.
Mr: A title prefixed to the surname, sometimes with the first name interposed, of a man who does not hold any higher, honorific or professional title. Plural 'Messrs.'
Why it's interesting: Because of the way this most common of titles has developed over the years. It was originally a purely orthographic shorthand for 'master', a courtesy title afforded to gentlemen, and pronounced as such. As the application of the title widened, so its pronounciation slipped to the now usual 'mister', and they are treated as entirely separate words. There is even a verb, 'to Mr.', meaning 'to address as Mr.'
Mrs: A title of courtesy prefixed to the surname of a married woman having no higher or professional title, often with her first name, or that of her husband, interposed.
Why it's interesting: In the same way 'Mr.' began as an abbreviation for 'Master' and gradually developed into a separate word, 'Mrs.' has departed from its original sense (and pronounciation) of 'Mistress'. Presumably this distinction was hurried along by the development of some of the racier meanings of 'mistress', such as the lover of a married man, from the 17th century onwards. It is nowadays pronounced 'missis', though when written out (usually in a jocular sense) this is normally spelt 'missus'.
Miss: A title preceding the name of an unmarried woman or girl without a higher, honorific or professional title. Like 'Mrs.', it is a contraction of 'mistress'.
Why it's interesting: a historical footnote, really - there used to be rules about how servants and other inferiors referred to the ladies of the house. The eldest unmarried daughter was called 'Miss [Surname]' and the others 'Miss [First name]'. As the elder daughters married the 'Miss [Surname]' title would be passed down. This can be seen in Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice', in which the eldest, Jane, is 'Miss Bennett' and the other girls are 'Miss Elizabeth', 'Miss Lydia' and so on. The plural could be e.g. 'the Misses Bennett' or 'the Miss Bennetts'.
Master: A title applied as a prefix to the name of a boy or young man not considered old enough to be called 'Mr.' (amongst other meanings!)
Why it's interesting: It has struck me as ironic that a word which in everyday use means someone possessing power or skill, is applied to boys who are unlikely to possess either. Of course, the word used to refer only to grown men, and indeed was interchangeable with 'Mister'. The modern distinction developed after 'Mister' became a discrete word with a different pronounciation. It may have begun with servants, who needed a respectful way to distinguish the master of the house from his sons (who were also his masters). Hence they became 'my young master' or 'Master [e.g.] Mark' until they went off and became Brigadiers or whatever well-to-do young men became. Nowadays giving a boy the title 'Master' seems rather formal, even pretentious, but it is still a useful distinction to have, especially when father and son have the same name.
Madam: A form of respectful or polite address (substituted for the name) originally used by servants in speaking to their mistress, and by people generally in speaking to a woman of high rank; subsequently used with progressively extended application, and now, though no longer as frequently as in previous centuries, employed in addressing a woman of whatever rank or position; the female counterpart of 'sir' (plural 'Mesdames').
Why it's interesting: Originally deriving from the French 'my dame' (in the same way as 'madonna'), 'madam' became an accepted address for women in situations where their name or title was not otherwise known. The reason why this has fallen increasingly out of use may be due to the development of perjorative meanings; if calling a woman 'madam' implies she is a brothel-keeper it is not really a term of respect! This has been counterbalanced by an adjustment of pronounciation to produce 'Ma'am'.
Sir: Used as a respectful term of address to a superior or, in later use, an equal.
Why it's interesting: 'Sir' seems to occupy a dual place in the English language. It is the distinctive title of honour of a knight or a baronet, and yet any old Tom, Dick or Harry can be called it by a shop assistant or letter-writer!
Degauss: To demagnetise, remove unwanted magnetism from (something).
Why it's interesting: When you get bored at work and start messing around with your VDU controls, Degauss is the little picture of the magnet with a line through it. The word originally comes from Gauss, the name of a German scientist who did something with electro-magnetism. To degauss originally referred to protecting a ship from magnetic mines by putting a electrically charged cable (a degaussing belt) around its hull. I just think it's weird that this life-saving bit of kit has somehow given way to a button that makes your screen go ping and jump around.
Shambolic: Chaotic, disorderly, undisciplined.
Why it's interesting: It's a fairly recent invention - probably postwar - and seems to have been formed from 'shamble(s)' on the model of 'symbolic'. This slightly unorthodox word has overtaken the more logical formations 'shambling' and 'shambly' in popular speech. The etymology really gets interesting, though, when you consider 'shamble', which was originally the Old English word for 'stool'. So how did it come to mean a scene of disorder or devastation? Well, the process started with a slight shift in emphasis of the OE word to mean 'bench', and since there was already a perfectly good word for bench (i.e. 'bench') it became more specific, meaning a table or stall for the sale of meat. This lead on to the pluralised word 'shambles' for meat market or slaughterhouse - this is still heard in some dialects today, and is found in the street names around many an old meat district. It's not a big figurative leap from slaughterhouse to any scene of carnage or devastation. I would also argue that its meaning has softened a little to simply mean 'mess', possibly under the influence of 'shambolic' - which is rather shambolically circuitous really!
Mantissa: the part of a logarithm after the decimal point.
Why it's interesting: Isn't it a shame that this lovely little word should be something so arcane? Let's reclaim it. It's of dubious origin but was apparently taken up in classical Latin to mean 'makeweight', or any small and unimportant addition. Perhaps it could be a type of footnote, or the last sequin on a dress, or the straw that broke the camel's back? Failing that, it would make rather a nice name for a girl...
If you enjoyed these words, you might like to have a look at this
