tweak Tweak is both a verb and a noun with a base meaning of pinch, twist, or pull. From this, it has developed a number of other senses. The word, in the form twick, can be traced back to Old English. (The Oxford English Dictionary says this is only “perhaps,” but
fascism / fascist By strict definition, Fascism is an autocratic and ultranationalist political ideology, characterized by centralized authority focused on a dictatorial leader and militarism, use of force to suppress opposition, national or racial supremacy, and regimentation of society and the economy that subordinates the individual to the collective. It is most closely
leech Leeches are a type of parasitic worm that suck blood from larger animals. But the word also has an obsolescent meaning of physician or healer. These two meanings may be related—because physicians used to use leeches for bloodletting—or they may come from separate roots. If they are related,
trouble at (the / t') mill 0:00 /0:34 1× Trouble at t’ mill (or trouble at mill / trouble at the mill) is a British cliché used to refer to any kind of problem or disagreement. It evokes, in Lancashire dialect, some kind of accident or labor dispute at a factory. It arises out of
grit / grits / hominy Grit can refer to sand, ground grain, moral fortitude, or a Canadian political party. As a verb, it can refer to grinding or gnashing, especially of one’s teeth. The history of this rather small word takes us on a journey encompassing Beowulf, John Smith’s seventeenth-century travel narratives, Thomas
trigger / trigger warning A trigger warning is a notice posted at the beginning of material, such as that depicting rape or violence, that may act as a catalyst or trigger for those suffering post-traumatic stress, so that they can mentally prepare themselves to view the material or to avoid it altogether. In the
slut / slut-shaming In today’s parlance, slut is a derogatory term for a woman who freely exercises her sexual agency. The word dates to the early fifteenth century and is of unknown origin. There are similar words in other Germanic languages, but their relationship to each other is unclear. It is often
blaster Sometimes you find an antedating that is much earlier than you expected. Such is the case with blaster, the science fiction word for a ray gun. The Oxford English Dictionary dates the science fiction use of blaster to 1950, with a first citation from an Isaac Asimov story, and I
banjax A friend of mine, who wasrenovating a bathroom in her house, posted the following in a social media post: The real skylight is one floor above in the bathroom we’re renovating. A water leak during demolition banjaxed my entire kitchen ceiling. To which another friend replied: Outstanding use of
pita Pita is a type of flat, hollow, unleavened bread, often filled with meat or other ingredients, that is associated with Middle Eastern or Balkan cuisine. Its use in English was relatively uncommon before the 1980s, but examples can be found from the 1930s. It was borrowed into English from several
Luddite The word Luddite presents an interesting case. It’s a word that was used for over a century, albeit rather rarely, to refer to a specific historical series of events. Then, in the late 1940s, use of the word exploded, but with a shift in its original meaning. The word
