Word Orgins

Question 1

funny bone

Answer 1

the elbow end of the humorous

Question 2

gossip

Answer 2

Old English godsibb “sponsor, godparent,” from God + sibb “relative” “any familiar acquaintance”friends invited to attend a birth, later to “anyone engaging in familiar or idle talk”

Question 3

chow

Answer 3

from Chinese pidgin English chow-chow (1795) “food,” reduplication of Chinese cha or tsa “mixed.” The dog breed of the same name is from 1886, of unknown origin, but some suggest a link to the Chinese tendency to see dogs as edible.

Question 4

gymnastics

Answer 4

comes from gymnasium literally means “to train naked,” from gymnos “naked

Question 5

butterfly

Answer 5

Perhaps based on the old notion that the insects (or witches disguised as butterflies) consume butter or milk that is left uncovered

Question 6

bigwig

Answer 6

in reference to the imposing wigs formerly worn by men of rank or authority.

Question 7

ambulance

Answer 7

from French (hôpital) ambulant, literally “walking (hospital)

Question 8

etiquette

Answer 8

from French étiquette “prescribed behavior,” from Old French estiquette “label, ticket”

Question 9

fiasco

Answer 9

theater slang for “a failure,” by 1862 acquired the general sense of any dismal flop, on or off the stage

Question 10

Charley horse

Answer 10

sporting slang, origin obscure, probably from somebody’s long-forgotten lame racehorse. Charley horse seems to have been a name for a horse or a type of horse (perhaps especially a lame one) around that time

Question 11

also-ran

Answer 11

originally in reference to horse-races, from also + past tense of run (v.). Probably from the way non-placing horses were listed in race results.