45. Sleep

06/30/24 • 16 min

Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast.

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.

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44. Landmarks

In this episode, we explore the stories behind the names of some of the world's most iconic landmarks and the etymology of the words used. We examine Big Ben, the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Gherkin, Burj Khalifa and more. Also uncovered are the origins and meanings of the names of architects associated with these structures. Discover how a planning permission complaint led to the naming of The Shard and the etymologies of words like mausoleum, monument and landmark.

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46. Names: Royalty

This episode explores the origins and meanings of names popular with royalty. Discover why the nickname of a 10th century Nordic king lives on in the 20th century technology term Bluetooth. Learn how the name Harry, a pet form of Henry, traces back to the French pronunciation during the Middle English period. We also look into the ancient Greek roots of many female royal names such as Catherine, Sophia, Eugenie and Alexandra, and explore the connection between the mythological King Arthur and the name Jennifer.