play video title words of the year 1066
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 video ghost words
How a Ghost Word Appeared in the Dictionary

 

An imaginary word that snuck into the dictionary

play video lay vs lie
Lay vs. Lie

 

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

play hot mess
Hot Mess

 

Our research turned up two archaic literal meanings

play body parts video
When Body Parts Are Also Verbs

 

Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes

play video who vs whom
Who vs. Whom

 

Good news for those who feel stuffy saying 'whom.'

play further vs farther video
Further vs. Farther

 

They started as same word, but their meanings have drifted apart over time.