Adventures in Etymology

[Zeldar]

Not really a game, so I’m starting this in MPSIMS.

The idea is to think of examples, or even make them up, where the components of words (prefixes, roots, suffixes, whatever) appear to relate to those components in other words. Having absolutely no clue about Greek, Latin, Sanskrit and other older languages will be a plus in this exercise. Forcing meanings and similarities where none exist will reveal your wit as exceptional.

A few examples to start the ball rolling:

Subtle = under the tle
(since Submarine means Under the sea)

Listless = having no list (shopping, Christmas, to-do, etc.)

Brother = somebody who makes the broth

Don’t hold back. Show us your skillz with wurds.

[Electric_Warrior]

I like the idea that the Turks are the people of ballads, because Türküler means ‘ballads’ in Turkish. This turns out to be wrong but it would have been kind of awesome.

[GHO57]

I’ll pass… I just know I’m going to go into family names… and eventually there’s going to come the question of the origin of “Dickinson”… and I’ll be yelled at. I hate it when that happens.

[Zeldar]

@GHO57

I’ll pass… I just know I’m going to go into family names… and eventually there’s going to come the question of the origin of “Dickinson”… and I’ll be yelled at. I hate it when that happens.

A wonderful field to explore, for sure. Take Joiner for instance, what did that first Joiner join? Like what clubs were there for him or her?

[The_Tao_s_Revenge]

@GHO57

I’ll pass… I just know I’m going to go into family names… and eventually there’s going to come the question of the origin of “Dickinson”… and I’ll be yelled at. I hate it when that happens.

Aren’t the Dickinson related to the Johnsons?

[Balance]

@Zeldar

A wonderful field to explore, for sure. Take Joiner for instance, what did that first Joiner join?

Presumably wood, given that joiners are carpenters. Alas, your spurious etymology in this case is probably not so spurious.

Amalgams = nice legs

“A-” = inversion prefix, a variant of “an-” used before a consonant, as in “atonal”
“mal” = “bad”, from French,
“gams” = “legs” (archaic slang)

(So it’s more precisely “not bad legs”.)

[Zeldar]

@Balance

@Zeldar

A wonderful field to explore, for sure. Take Joiner for instance, what did that first Joiner join?

Presumably wood, given that joiners are carpenters. Alas, your spurious etymology in this case is probably not so spurious.

Amalgams = nice legs

“A-” = inversion prefix, a variant of “an-” used before a consonant, as in “atonal”
“mal” = “bad”, from French,
“gams” = “legs” (archaic slang)

(So it’s more precisely “not bad legs”.)

Excellent. So we can deduce that the Rockettes are an amalgamation?

[Balance]

@Zeldar

Excellent. So we can deduce that the Rockettes are an amalgamation?

Of course. By extension, “amalgamation” means “nice legs in motion”.

[Zeldar]

Okay. I’m stuck trying to think of something that will abuse the relationship between:

Interior
Exterior
Posterior

Somehow, my brain locks up on Boston Terrier and the like.

Help me over this hurdle, please.

[eunoia]

The more daughters you have, the more occasions you have to dowry.

[Zeldar]

@Electric_Warrior

I like the idea that the Turks are the people of ballads, because Türküler means ‘ballads’ in Turkish. This turns out to be wrong but it would have been kind of awesome.

By the same token, what has “scotching” a wheel to prevent its rolling to do with

hopscotch
butterscotch
and Scotch on the Rocks?

[mascaroni]

Concrete - i never liked those Mediterranean islanders

[Slithy_Tove]

vindaloonycated: when a psychologist’s theory that spicy food causes personality disorder is proven correct.

[RealityChuck]

lunatic – an involuntary twitch caused by exposure to moonlight
imperfect – vast egotism, from the phrase, “I’m perfect.”
ironic – made of iron

[Electric_Warrior]

@Zeldar

By the same token, what has “scotching” a wheel to prevent its rolling to do with

hopscotch
butterscotch
and Scotch on the Rocks?

Well see, it was originally done with Scotch tape.

[Zeldar]

@Electric_Warrior

Well see, it was originally done with Scotch tape.

Amazing!

To this day I can’t help thinking that phlebitis comes from sleeping with your dog.

[needscoffee]

@The_Tao_s_Revenge

@GHO57

I’ll pass… I just know I’m going to go into family names… and eventually there’s going to come the question of the origin of “Dickinson”… and I’ll be yelled at. I hate it when that happens.

Aren’t the Dickinson related to the Johnsons?

And the Petersons.

[needscoffee]

Synchronicity: When two metropolises are in the same time zone.

[Tethered_Kite]

Could you call a male to female transsexual a postman?

[Tethered_Kite]

Is chickpea dip on a fence posthumous?