Wild West 28 September 2026 The phrase Wild West usually refers to the American frontier, and it conjures up mythic images of gunslingers, cattle rustlers, Indian raids, and the dead-eyed lawmen who eventually tamed the region and made it habitable for civilized folks. The period most often evoked by the phrase
Tony award 25 September 2026 The Tonys, or officially the Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, are, of course, named for Antoinette Perry (1888–1946), a Broadway actor, producer, and director, and also the co-founder of the American Theatre Wing. That organization was created in 1940 as a branch
Grammy 23 September 2026 [A version of this entry originally appeared as a Words in the News segment for paying subscribers.] The Grammys are given out by the Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences for achievement in the recording/music industry. The awards have been given annually since 1959. The name
Emmy / image orthicon 21 September 2026 The Emmys are a series of awards given by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (ATAS) for excellence in the field of television entertainment and technology. They have been given annually since 1949. The Emmy statuette depicts a winged woman holding up an atom. The name
mayonnaise 18 September 2026 Mayonnaise is a creamy sauce made from oil, egg yolks, and vinegar, lemon juice, or other acid. It is commonly used on sandwiches and hamburgers, in salads, and on French fries. It also forms the base for other sauces like tartar sauce, ranch dressing, and some versions
Suggestions I have come to the end of my “to do” list for the Wordorigins.org Big List. If you have any suggestions for words or phrases to include there and in this email list, please send them my way. Vox populi, vox Wordorigins.
marmalade 16 September 2026 Marmalade is a jelly with pieces of fruit and rind suspended within it. It is now most commonly made primarily with oranges, but marmalade can be made with a variety of fruits; for instance, the original marmalade was made with quince. Appearances of marmalade are usually preceded
tea (gossip) 14 September 2026 The slang usage of tea to mean gossip is first documented in the early 1970s, although long before that the drink has been associated with gossip and the exchange of information as people would gather to socialize over the drink. In writing, the slang term is sometimes
centaur / reverse centaur 11 September 2026 [A version of this entry originally appeared on 6 August as a Words in the News segment.] The word centaur, of course, refers to the mythological, hybrid creature that has the head, torso, and arms of a human and the body and legs of a horse. The
gonzo 9 September 2026 The word gonzo is inextricably linked to writer Hunter S. Thompson, famed for his style dubbed gonzo journalism. In Thompson’s usage, gonzo is a highly subjective, first-person style, characterized by distorted and exaggerated facts. Thompson first used the word in print on 11 November 1971
booty / booty call 7 September 2026 Booty is actually two different words, one meaning plunder or loot and the other referring to sex. Booty, referring to plunder or loot, of is uncertain origin. It was borrowed from some European language, but there are any number of potential candidates. It’s cognate with the
