# Common words derived from proper names **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 16, 2007, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-words-derived-from-proper-names/411931 "2007-07-16T03:08:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-words-derived-from-proper-names/411931/21 "2007-07-16T16:05:32Z")
[QUOTE=Sitnam] Laconic Mercurial [/QUOTE] Laconic comes from a place. > [@](#): > > “concise, abrupt,” 1589, from Gk. Lakonikos, from Lakon “person from Lakonia,” the district around Sparta in southern Greece in ancient times, whose inhabitants were famous for their brevity of speech. When Philip of Macedon threatened them with, “If I enter Laconia, I will raze Sparta to the ground,” the Spartans’ reply was, “If.” Mercurial comes from the planet. > [@](#): > > 1390, “pertaining to the planet Mercury” (see Mercury). Meaning “sprightly, volatile, quick” (1593) is from supposed qualities of those born under the planet Mercury, probably partially by association with quicksilver. Neither is the name of a person. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-words-derived-from-proper-names/411931/22 "2007-07-16T16:12:55Z")
[QUOTE=t-bonham@scc.net] Political action words: boycott gerrymander [/QUOTE] gerrymander??? … Oh Yeah! Now I remember!!! It’s named for that guy who played the Beav on _Leave It To Beaver_! ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-words-derived-from-proper-names/411931/23 "2007-07-16T16:20:19Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] Neither is the name of a person. [/QUOTE] The OP said “proper names.” Are place names not proper names? ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-words-derived-from-proper-names/411931/24 "2007-07-16T16:33:39Z")
An enthusiastic suitor is a _Lothario_ or a _Romeo_. \*Don Juan \* and _Casanova_ are in there, too. A nomimee for an appointed office is treated harshly; he is _Borked_. A heavily hyped, but failed new product is an _Edsel_, or a _New Coke_. Rob the rich, pay the poor? You’re a _Robin Hood_, (who, in the stories, tormented one of my ancestors.) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-words-derived-from-proper-names/411931/25 "2007-07-16T16:51:13Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] The OP said “proper names.” Are place names not proper names? [/QUOTE] The OP also used as an example a word derived from the name of a person. That’s the way eponyms are normally defined. So. We have conflicting evidence about the OP’s intent. Maybe if the OP shows up again we can get a ruling. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-words-derived-from-proper-names/411931/26 "2007-07-16T17:05:55Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] The OP also used as an example a word derived from the name of a person. That’s the way eponyms are normally defined. So. We have conflicting evidence about the OP’s intent. Maybe if the OP shows up again we can get a ruling. [/QUOTE] OK. However, the OP did not mention eponyms, only proper names. Wouldn’t the derivation of either be essentially the same process? ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-words-derived-from-proper-names/411931/27 "2007-07-16T17:11:26Z")
The commonest English word coming from the name of a real person is “guy”, which ultimately comes from Guy Fawkes (who may have been related to me). ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-words-derived-from-proper-names/411931/28 "2007-07-16T17:34:13Z")
[QUOTE=Cunctator] Sandwich and the [4th Earl of Sandwich](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Montagu%2C_4th_Earl_of_Sandwich) Cardigan and the [7th Earl of Cardigan](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Thomas_Brudenell%2C_7th_Earl_of_Cardigan) [/QUOTE] [Lord Douchebag](http://snltranscripts.jt.org/79/79tdouchebag.phtml)? ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-words-derived-from-proper-names/411931/29 "2007-07-16T17:42:27Z")
“Panderer” or “to pander” is from a character from Chaucer’s **Troilus and Creseyde** , I believe. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-words-derived-from-proper-names/411931/30 "2007-07-16T17:48:04Z")
Hermetically, as in to seal a vessel in such a way to keep the contents pure. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-words-derived-from-proper-names/411931/31 "2007-07-16T19:43:27Z")
In addition to **jayjay** ’s science/tech words, these come to mind: [ul] [li]Fahrenheit[/li][li]Celsius[/li][li]Kelvin[/li][li]Volt (a slight mod of Alessandro Volta’s last name)[/li][li]Mho (derived from Ohm, spelled backward)[/li][li]Bluetooth (the wireless protocol named for Harald “Bluetooth” Gormson)[/li][li]Linux (a slight mod of Linus Torvalds’ first name)[/li][li]Buffalo wings (named for the town, not the animal)[/li][li]and a _lot_ of other foods and drinks (New York steak, Philadelphia cheesesteak, San Francisco sourdough bread, Denver omelet, Boston clam chowder, Manhattan clam chowder, Swiss cheese, Burgundy wine, Scottish ale, Irish whiskey…)[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2007, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-words-derived-from-proper-names/411931/32 "2007-07-18T13:41:03Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] Laconic comes from a place. [/QUOTE] For some reason I thought there was a Spartan king named Laconis…guess not. [QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] Mercurial comes from the planet. [/QUOTE] No…the planet is named for the person Mercury (a diety granted, but still). I’m not sure why you’d think a word meaning thief and swift came from an orbiting ball of rock. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2007, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-words-derived-from-proper-names/411931/33 "2007-07-18T14:16:52Z")
Sanchez ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2007, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-words-derived-from-proper-names/411931/34 "2007-07-18T15:12:40Z")
[QUOTE=Sitnam] I’m not sure why you’d think a word meaning thief and swift came from an orbiting ball of rock. [/QUOTE] Because the Online Etymology Dictionary gives the history of the word and you don’t? ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2007, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-words-derived-from-proper-names/411931/35 "2007-07-20T13:28:22Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] Because the Online Etymology Dictionary gives the history of the word and you don’t? [/QUOTE] [http://www.yourdictionary.com/wotd/wotd.pl?word=mercurial](http://www.yourdictionary.com/wotd/wotd.pl?word=mercurial) ---
**Author:** ![Trisha\_McMillan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@Trisha\_McMillan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trisha_McMillan)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2007, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-words-derived-from-proper-names/411931/36 "2007-07-20T15:03:57Z")
to \*\*bowdlerise \*\* (or bowdlerize for those across the Pond) To edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate. So coined after the much derided actions of [Thomas Bowdler.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowdlerise) :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2007, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-words-derived-from-proper-names/411931/37 "2007-07-20T15:11:16Z")
[QUOTE=Sitnam] [http://www.yourdictionary.com/wotd/wotd.pl?word=mercurial](http://www.yourdictionary.com/wotd/wotd.pl?word=mercurial) [/QUOTE] “Dr. Language” on one side; the Online Etymology Dictionary on the other. And the OED: > [@](#): > > Mercurial > > 1. Of persons. Born under the planet Mercury; having the qualities supposed to proceed from such a nativity, as eloquence, ingenuity, aptitude for commerce. People are free to decide which to go by. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2007, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-words-derived-from-proper-names/411931/38 "2007-07-20T20:27:39Z")
Johnson. Who’s the lucky guy this word is derived from? ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2007, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-words-derived-from-proper-names/411931/39 "2007-07-20T21:04:53Z")
Sadism and Machochisim Don’t get me into Titsling, that was just a joke. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2007, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-words-derived-from-proper-names/411931/40 "2007-07-20T22:22:45Z")
Spoonerism is named for Reverend something-or-other Spooner, who tended to stip the flarts of his words. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-words-derived-from-proper-names/411931.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-words-derived-from-proper-names/411931.md?page=3)