# Words one can get confused **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 18, 2022, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772 "2022-09-18T20:10:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 62
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/1224 "2026-10-15T20:01:49Z")
Though “toss this banana peel” would have the same sense she meant. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2026, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/1225 "2026-10-16T09:47:03Z")
True! ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2026, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/1226 "2026-10-16T14:08:50Z")
**Cyprus** : an island in the eastern Mediterranean **cypress** : any of several member of the Cupressaceae family of coniferous trees and shrubs, related to the redwoods and junipers **cyprus** (sometimes spelled **cypress** or **Cyprus** ): a kind of black crêpe fabric associated with mourning **cy pres** : a legal doctrine allowing a court to redirect a charitable bequest to an alternate charity in certain cases, such as when the originally specified charity no longer exists **cypris** : a kind of freshwater arthropod ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2026, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/1227 "2026-10-17T15:06:42Z")
I think that the tree is named after the island, though. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2026, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/1228 "2026-10-17T18:04:12Z")
**Cyrus** : proper name associated with kingship in classical times. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2026, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/1229 "2026-10-17T20:45:25Z")
Apparently not. The tree was named after [Cyparissus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyparissus), a mythological figure who was turned into a cypress tree because of his mourning for the death of a pet deer. The tree was a symbol of sorrow because of the tear-like droplets of sap that form on its trunk. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2026, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/1230 "2026-10-17T20:58:56Z")
Turns out I remembered it backwards. The tree isn’t named after the island, but [the island might be named after the tree](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus#Etymology). Or maybe after a different tree, or maybe a word for copper. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2026, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/1231 "2026-10-18T01:04:00Z")
**Cypress Hill** : multi-platinum hip-hop group **Cypress Hills** : neighborhood in eastern Brooklyn ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2026, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/1232 "2026-10-19T07:10:41Z")
**depose** : to put down, lay down, put away **dispose** : to distribute or arrange, put in place; to deal out; to eliminate or get rid of ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2026, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/1233 "2026-10-22T01:37:08Z")
**comm** : abbreviation for _communication_ or any of several other words starting comm- **conn** : the control exercised by one who steers and directs a ship. Not really an abbreviation of anything, but etymologically related to _conduct_. On _Star Trek_, Kirk freuqently says [“Mr. Spock, you have the conn”](https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/2bbdda2c-4cea-4f53-8c27-2c7e1f38ae30) (not “comm”). Meanwhile Lt. Uhura is in charge of comms, but in the original series, they always or almost always said “communications” instead. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772.md?page=61)