Thanks to all who have participated in the Give Us A Clue contest in Crossed Wires over the past few months. We’ve been offered hundreds of excellent suggestions. Remember to look out for your definitions as clues in upcoming crosswords. We’re giving you a well-deserved break but we may bring back Give Us A [more…]
Codswallop!
If something is a load of old codswallop it is nonsense or of no value. Where does this odd word come from?
One theory speaks of Hiram C Codd, who in the 1870s, went into business selling lemonade in green glass bottles with marble stoppers.
‘Wallop’ was a nineteenth century slang term for beer and [more…]
The word ALPHABET is derived from the first two letters of the Greek alphabet, ALPHA and BETA.
When it was first introduced into English, some purists, or nit-pickers, thought that the word should be used purely to describe the Greek version. The English version should be referred to as the ABC, or the abece. An [more…]
A cravat is a wide neckband and was the forerunner to the modern tie. It is still occasionally worn but where did it come from?
Many people associate the word cravat with France but in fact it originates in Croatia.
Croatian mercenaries in the French army in the 17th century wore linen neckcloths.
The word cravat comes from [more…]
“The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year.”
Mark Twain
The month of April derives its name from Aprilis, the name given to it by the Romans. It has its origins in the name of the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite. For the Romans [more…]
In 1773, the citizens of Boston called for three ships of the British East India Company to be sent back to England without their cargo of 342 chest of tea being unloaded.
This was in response to what were seen as unfair taxes on imports, being imposed by the British. Their request was denied and [more…]
If a punishment is considered Draconian you can be certain that it is particularly or overly harsh.
As any parent knows, meting out penalties is always difficult. No video games for a month! Grounded for a year!
For schools, businesses and governments it is also a vexed question of what ‘punishment fits the crime’. Too harsh [more…]
Very few people realise that the story of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was based on a true story.
Robert Louis Stevenson based his story on William Brodie, a respected Scottish businessman.
Born in 1741, Brodie was the son of a well-to-do cabinetmaker. He was a city councillor leader of the masons guild and yet he [more…]
