Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast.

This episode uncovers various theories behind why and how we use certain non-verbal gestures to communicate, along with the origins of the terms that describe them. Discover the surprising history behind gestures like the high-five, said to be popularised by American baseball, and elbow touching, first suggested by the World Health Organization in 2006. The word smirk, once meant "to smile," before the emergence of the word smile itself. We also look into gestures like kissing the teeth, shaking hands, nodding the head and blowing out birthday candles.

In this episode, we dig deep into the grave origins of words related to death. The term eulogy comes from ancient Greek and etymologically translates to 'good words' while euthanasia means 'good death'. An executor ensures that the wishes in a will are fulfilled, deriving from a Latin word meaning 'to follow', which also gives us the word sequence. Discover the surprising connection between cemetery and coma, and learn what popularised the idea of a bucket list.

This episode gets into the origins of sleep-related terminology. Starting with how synonyms for sleep such as rest, nap, slumber and ZZZs entered the English language, we explain a theory as to why it's "forty winks" instead of twenty, thirty or fifty. Learn why the Old English word for snore is connected to rooting for someone to win, and why Australians might refer to a duvet as a doona.

This time, we're hitting all the right notes as we explore the origins and meanings of names through the lens of female singers. Shania Twain, Celine Dion and Alanis Morissette share a distant relative, but only one of them carries a version of his surname. Kylie became a popular name in Australia, inspired by an Indigenous Australian word for a boomerang, while Beyoncé's name may trace back to the French word bois, meaning wood. We also uncover the fascinating origins of the names Ariana, Cher, Dolly and Melanie.

This episode delves into the origins of sports names, embarking on a journey that begins with the intertwined history of Football, Rugby and Soccer. Explore the linguistic roots behind the names of sports like Pickleball, Tennis and Golf. The equestrian sport of Polo, brought to England by tea planters returning from India, finds its origins in Persia with the ancient game known as Chowgan. Beyond the field, this episode also delves into the name origins of sporting pioneers behind Air Jordan (Michael Jordan), Fred Perry (Fred Perry) and Lacoste (René Lacoste).