The surprisingly connected origins of "computer" and "account".

#etymology #wordnerd #linguistics #HistoricalLinguistics #language #words #lingcomm #computer #accounts

https://youtube.com/shorts/94folLzYuvw

The following hashtags are trending across South African Mastodon instances:

#southafrica
#onthisday
#stpatricksday
#etymology
#Wordle
#wordle1732
#mossad
#iran
#trump
#surveillance

Based on recent posts made by non-automated accounts. Posts with more boosts, favourites, and replies are weighted higher.

The word “geek” comes from English dialect “geek” or “geck” (meaning a “fool” or “freak”; from Middle Low German Geck), and as someone who once studied linguistics and was born in Germany, this gives me a little hug. 🫶🏻

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geek

#language #etymology #geek

The following hashtags are trending across South African Mastodon instances:

#iran
#stpatricksday
#etymology
#southafrica
#onthisday
#dreamed
#mossad
#trump
#surveillance
#tech

Based on recent posts made by non-automated accounts. Posts with more boosts, favourites, and replies are weighted higher.

Just been hearing on the radio about how the iconic "Shebeen" in South Africa is actually an Irish tradition, where they spell the word "Sibin". I know about this from the iconic 90s/early 2000s TV ad, and I hadn't forgotten, although I learnt a bit more of the background from the radio spot.

But South Africa's not the only place with a sizable Irish community. Obviously the US comes to mind, but I've never heard of any Shebeens/Sibins in America.

Do you have them?

Or is that maybe where your Speakeasy originated? I can actually see the word "Sibin" getting transliterated into "Speakeasy" in the States. Maybe. Possibly. 🤔

#StPatricksDay #etymology

weaponize / weaponized

https://www.wordorigins.org/big-list-entries/weaponize-weaponized

#etymology #wordorigins #language

boycott

https://www.wordorigins.org/big-list-entries/boycott

#etymology #wordorigins #language