Many words we use actually
came from newspaper comics. Here are a few:
Goon - The word “goon” to describe a simpleton or stupid
person dates back to the 16th century, when sailors sometimes
compared folks to the albatross, often colloquially referred to as a
“gooney bird.” However, “goon,” when used to describe a muscular,
not-so-bright, hired thug, comes from the Popeye comic strip,
notably Alice the Goon, an eight-foot tall giantess with hairy
forearms.
Wimpy - J. Wellington Wimpy was a hamburger loving soul and
also a character in the Popeye comics. While the word “wimp” is from
World War I, the soft-spoken, intelligent, cowardly Wimpy gave us a
way to describe being a wimp.
Dagwood Sandwich - A Dagwood is any stacked sandwich that
consists of a variety of meats, cheeses, and other condiments.
Dagwood Bumstead, husband in the Blondie comics built the piled-high
wonders out of anything and everything he could find in the
refrigerator.
Milquetoast - Someone who is even wimpier than Wimpy is a
total milquetoast, as in Caspar Milquetoast, a character from a
one-panel comic strip by H.T. Webster called The Timid Soul.
Caspar’s surname was a play on the bland dish called milktoast that
was often served to invalids or folks with “nervous” stomachs.
Caspar Milquetoast was a guy who would buy a new hat rather than
trespass when his blew off his head and onto a lawn with a “Keep Off
the Grass” sign.
Mutt and Jeff - Mutt and Jeff were two comic strip characters
created by Bud Fisher in 1907. Augustus Mutt was a tall, lanky
ne’er-do-well who liked to bet on the ponies, while his pal Othello
Jeff was short, rotund, and shared Mutt's passion for “get rich
quick” schemes. The strip became so popular that “Mutt and Jeff” is
used to describe any duo displaying opposite physical
characteristics.
Keeping up with the Joneses - You have likely wondered who
are these Joneses. In the comic strip of their origin, they were
never seen. Keeping Up with the Joneses was written and drawn by
Arthur “Pop” Momand and was first published in the New York Globe in
1913. The strip followed the daily life of the Aloysius P. McGinnis
family, and Mrs. McGinnis’ envy of their wealthy neighbors, the
Joneses. Al endured his wife outfitting him in “trendy” clothing
like lime-green spats and lemon-colored gloves, because that is how
Mr. Jones dressed.
Dinty Moore - Both the Hormel canned stew and the
triple-decker corned beef/lettuce/tomato/Russian dressing sandwich
that bear this name were inspired by the tavern owner in the popular
George McManus comic strip Bringing Up Father. Maggie and Jiggs were
Irish-American immigrants who won a million dollars in a
sweepstakes. Maggie eagerly adapted to their new lifestyle, but
former bricklayer Jiggs missed his boisterous pals and frequently
sneaked off to hang with them at Dinty Moore’s, where they would
feast on corned beef and cabbage and Irish stew while enjoying a few
toddys.
Whammy and Double Whammy - According to the comic strip
Li'l Abner, Evil-Eye Fleagle was a zoot-suited hood who came from
Brooklyn, New York. He could shoot beams of destruction from his
eyes. A regular whammy could knock a dozen men unconscious and the
double whammy could collapse a building. I trust these provided a
'Linus blanket' for your curiosity.
Showing posts with label Wordology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wordology. Show all posts
Dec 7, 2013
Oct 25, 2013
Wordology
Dysania means having difficulty getting out of bed in the morning. Griffonage means illegible handwriting. Acnestis is the area between your shoulder blades. Semordnilap is a word or phrase that reads one way forward and another backward (parts/strap). Scroop is the sound produced by the movement of silk, as in long dresses. Penthera phobia is fear of your mother-in-law.
Punt is the indent on the bottom of a wine bottle. Agraffe is the wire that keeps the cork on a bottle of champagne. Barm is the foam on the top of a glass of beer. Box Tent is the little plastic piece used in pizza boxes to keep the top from smashing the pizza. Kemmerspeck is the weight gained from emotional overeating (literally grease bacon).
String is a group of ponies. Business is an assembly of ferrets. Smack is a group of jellyfish. Gam is a group of whales. Murder is a group of crows. Trip is a group of goats. Parliament is a group of owls. Pass is a group of donkeys. Prickle is a group of porcupines.
Punt is the indent on the bottom of a wine bottle. Agraffe is the wire that keeps the cork on a bottle of champagne. Barm is the foam on the top of a glass of beer. Box Tent is the little plastic piece used in pizza boxes to keep the top from smashing the pizza. Kemmerspeck is the weight gained from emotional overeating (literally grease bacon).
String is a group of ponies. Business is an assembly of ferrets. Smack is a group of jellyfish. Gam is a group of whales. Murder is a group of crows. Trip is a group of goats. Parliament is a group of owls. Pass is a group of donkeys. Prickle is a group of porcupines.
Nov 23, 2012
Wordology, Racking
Rack likely comes from the Middle Dutch
“rec”, meaning 'framework', and the Old English 'recken', meaning
'to stretch out'. Usage became the word used for a frame that you
put things on to dry or to stretch something out on.
Later the word also came to mean a frame for putting people on for torture. This expanded the meaning to include causing mental or physical harm or suffering or to stretch or strain. So, when someone says they are racking their brain, it means they are straining their brain. I reckin this stuff is true.
Later the word also came to mean a frame for putting people on for torture. This expanded the meaning to include causing mental or physical harm or suffering or to stretch or strain. So, when someone says they are racking their brain, it means they are straining their brain. I reckin this stuff is true.
Oct 12, 2012
Wordology, Naked and Nude
Naked implies unprotected or
vulnerable or without clothes. It also describes something that is
without embellishment, as in the 'naked truth' or without aid, as in
'seen by the naked eye'. Nude means one thing, unclothed.
Oct 5, 2012
Wordology, Grand Slam
The immediate origin was from the
card game, Bridge. Grand slam means to take all 13 tricks in a
hand.
It has since come to take on other meanings, such as in tennis to win all four major singles titles; the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open in one year. A grand slam in golf is to win; Masters Tournament, U.S. Open, British Open, and PGA Championship in one year. It is used in baseball to signify hitting a home run with all bases loaded.
Chess, Curling, Rugby, and other sports each have a grand slam definition of their own,
Denny's restaurant chain is famous for its Grand Slam breakfasts consisting of various combinations of meat, eggs, bread, and pancakes. We also cannot forget Grand Slam Pizza in Dripping Springs, Texas.
It has since come to take on other meanings, such as in tennis to win all four major singles titles; the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open in one year. A grand slam in golf is to win; Masters Tournament, U.S. Open, British Open, and PGA Championship in one year. It is used in baseball to signify hitting a home run with all bases loaded.
Chess, Curling, Rugby, and other sports each have a grand slam definition of their own,
Denny's restaurant chain is famous for its Grand Slam breakfasts consisting of various combinations of meat, eggs, bread, and pancakes. We also cannot forget Grand Slam Pizza in Dripping Springs, Texas.
Mar 9, 2012
Wordology
The only word that consists of two letters, each used three times is the word "deeded."
A hamlet is a village without a church and a town is not a city until it has a cathedral.
The 'v' in the name of a court case does not stand for 'versus', but for 'and' (in civil proceedings) or 'against' (in criminal proceedings).
The word "karate" means "empty hand."
A hamlet is a village without a church and a town is not a city until it has a cathedral.
The 'v' in the name of a court case does not stand for 'versus', but for 'and' (in civil proceedings) or 'against' (in criminal proceedings).
The word "karate" means "empty hand."
Mar 2, 2012
Wordology
Jumbo was a large African Bush Elephant, born 1861 in the French Sudan, imported to a Paris zoo, transferred to the London Zoo in 1865, and sold in 1882 to P. T. Barnum, for the circus. The giant elephant's name is now a common word 'jumbo', meaning large in size.
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