Literally: Amazing words and where they come from By Patrick Skipworth (What on Earth Books)
As I consider my self a clever linguist (who can censor his own writing, thank you!), I am always on the lookout for interesting and intriguing words to sprinkle into my writing. And while I have moved on from “posit” and the like, there are still many terms that inspire me and about which I hope to know more.
When I saw this book, I was excited to see what nifty neologisms nested inside. Among the international offerings are “companion” (which comes from pan – the French for “bread” – and refers to someone with whom you would eat) and “Zero” (which the book claims to be Arabic, yet which has also been shown to have South American roots). There are also more than a few animalistic terms, including “Caribou” (apparently the original snow shovel), and the apparently onomatopoeic “Kookaburra” (which gets its name from its cackling call). And while the etymologies are all interesting, I was somewhat saddened that I was not even gifted a baker’s dozen. Still, the book is sure to be a tantalizing treat for younger writers and wordsmiths and one that will hopefully set them on a lifelong journey like the one I have enjoyed lo’ these many years.
– Matt Robinson
