10 Fascinating Origins of Common Words We Use Today
By Tushar Kumar
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The word "salary" comes from the Latin word "salarium," which was the money given to Roman soldiers to buy salt. Salt was so valuable in ancient times that it was used as a form of currency, and "salary" still reminds us of its worth.
1 - Salary
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Originally, a "mare" was an evil spirit believed to sit on people's chests while they slept, causing bad dreams. The word "nightmare" combines "night" with this old word, suggesting a night visitor bringing terrifying dreams.
2 - Nightmare
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Derived from the Italian word "quaranta," meaning forty, "quarantine" originally referred to the 40 days that ships suspected of carrying the plague were isolated before the crew could go ashore.
3 - Quarantine
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The word "clue" originates from "clew," a ball of yarn. In Greek mythology, Theseus used a clew to navigate the Minotaur’s labyrinth, giving "clue" its meaning as something guiding you to a solution.
4 - Clue
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The word "whiskey" comes from the Gaelic phrase "uisge beatha," meaning "water of life." Over time, it was shortened and anglicized to "whiskey," but its origins highlight its revered status.
5 - Whiskey
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"Panic" originates from the Greek god Pan, who was known for causing sudden, irrational fear. Shepherds believed Pan could induce this terror, especially when they were alone in the wilderness.
6 - Panic
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The word "ketchup" has roots in the Chinese word "ke-tsiap," a fermented fish sauce. It traveled through trade routes, evolving as it reached the West, where tomatoes eventually replaced the fish.
7 - Ketchup
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The word "robot" comes from the Czech word "robota," meaning forced labor or drudgery. It was first used in Karel Čapek’s 1920 play "R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots)" to describe artificial workers.
8 - Robot
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"Hazard" has its origins in the Arabic word "al-zahr," meaning dice. The term came to be associated with risk or danger due to the gambling and uncertainty involved in dice games.
9 - Hazard
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The word "sarcasm" comes from the Greek "sarkasmos," which literally means "to tear flesh." This brutal imagery reflects the cutting, biting nature of sarcastic remarks.