Another one, if you look up the etymolygy of the word “gullible”, you’ll find it derives from Jean deGulle, a notoriously naive French politician from the mid-1800’s
“There are only two things that are infinite: The Universe, and human stupidity-- and I’m not sure about the Universe”
–A. Einstein
One of these days I’ve got to get myself a John Hancock.
…and Canadians from Southern Ontario may still recognize “chesterfield”, after Lord Chesterfield, who had an enormous …sofa. The word “chesterfield” has been dropping out of use, to be replaced by “couch”. I suspect this is due to the influence of the American term “couch potato”.
Rigardu, kaj vi ekvidos.
How about the Bowie Knife(you Texans should know that).
Hand me that wrench. No, the one that looks like a hammer.
Sig Courtesy of Walley
“Ollie” and “MacTwist” are skateboarding (and later snowboarding) moves, presumably referring to their inventors.
You can convince someone though a series of questions by being “Socratic,” have a “Platonic” relationship, or be complimented as “Aristotelean” for your common sense. And an entire era was named after Aristotle’s most famous pupil–the Alexandrian Age.
And, of course, if anything I’ve said above is wrong it’s a result of my pulling a “Boner,” unless you believe Merriam-Webster, who helpfully defines the term as “one who bones.”
Then of course there is the half-full but forgotten beer known as a “Griffin.” I personally know the gentleman who so deserved this eponym, and get a good laugh every time I hear someone I don’t know use the term.
But I can’t find gullible in my dictionary…
Well, OK, not true, but 10C doesn’t have an etymology. Not to worry, the OED does and it says that it’s a backformation for gullibility. The derivation of that is a bit complex (and obscure), but no eponym seems to be involved.
Dan Tilque
Has anyone mentioned “Shirley Temples” yet?