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Word History

Words of the Year: 1066

Why is pig meat called 'pork' and cow meat called 'beef?' Because English took on a big serving of French words following the Norman Conquest.


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play video title words of the year 1066
Words of the Year: 1066

 

English was never the same after the Norman Conquest

play ismo merriam webster trunk boot
Some Odd Words with ISMO: "Junk in the Trunk"

 

Comedian ISMO on what separates a boot from a trunk

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'Nip it in the butt' or 'Nip it in the bud'?

 

We're gonna stop you right there

play video how a word gets into the dicionary
How a Word Gets into the Dictionary

 

What our editors are looking for when they enter words in Merriam-Webster.

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A Look at Uncommon Onomatopoeia

 

Some imitative words are more surprising than others

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'One in the same' or 'One and the same'?

 

Is it all the same anyway?

play video schwa
The Schwa

 

The most common vowel sound in English causes many spelling problems.