Gluten Glue

8 October 20258 October 2025 By Simon

Did you know that the words glue and gluten are related to each other, and to the word clay?

Glue [ɡluː] is:

A hard gelatin made by boiling bones and hides, used in solution as an adhesive; or any sticky adhesive substance.
Anything that binds two things or people together.
A viscid secretion on the surface of certain plants.

It comes from Middle English glew [ɡliu̯] (glue, birdlime, tar, resin), from Old French glu (glue, birdlime), from Late Latin glūs, from Latin glūten (glue), from Proto-Italic *gloiten, from Proto-Indo-European *glóh₁ytn̥, from *gleyH- (to smear, to stick, glue, putty) [source].

Gluten [ˈɡluːtən / ˈɡluːtn̩] is:

The major protein in cereal grains, especially wheat; responsible for the elasticity in dough and the structure in baked bread.

It comes from Middle French gluten, from Latin glūten (glue), etc. [source].

Clay [kleɪ] is:

A mineral substance made up of small crystals of silica and alumina, that is ductile when moist; the material of pre-fired ceramics.

It comes from Middle English cley, from Old English clǣġ (clay), from Proto-West Germanic *klaij (clay), from Proto-Germanic *klajjaz (clay), from Proto-Indo-European *gloy-(y)ó-s, from *gleyH- (to smear, to stick, glue, putty) [source].

So they all come from the same PIE root. Other words from that root include glynu (to stick, adhere, settle) in Welsh, klína (to smear) in Icelandic, glina (clay, loam) in Polish, liiv (sand) in Estonian, klei (clay) in Dutch [source].

Shearing Scissors

3 October 20253 October 2025 By Simon

Why does the word scissors have a silent c in it, and is it related to the word shears? Let’s find out.

Scissors [ˈsɪzəz / ˈsɪzɚz] are:

A tool used for cutting thin material, consisting of two crossing blades attached at a pivot point in such a way that the blades slide across each other when the handles are closed. [other meanings are available]

It comes from Middle English sisours (scissors, shears, [candle] snuffer), from Old French cusoirs (a cutting tool), from Late Latin cīsōria, from cīsōrium (a cutting tool), from Latin -cīsus or caesus (cut, hewn, felled, stuck, beaten), from *caedō (to cut, hew, fell, strike, beat), from Proto-Italic *kaidō (to cut, hew, fell), from Proto-Indo-European *kh₂eyd- (to cut, hew) [source].

The c was added to scissors during the 16th century due to the influence of the Medieval Latin word scissor (tailor, carver) and the Latin word scindō (to cut, tear, read, separate), which both come from Proto-Indo-European *skeyd- (to divide, split) [source].

Words from the same PIE root include cement, to excise, incision, precise and chisel in English, qeth (to cut) in Albanian, césped (lawn, grass, turf) in Spanish, précis (specific, explicit, sharp) in French [source].

In Old English, the word for scissors or shears was sċēar [ʃæ͜ɑːr], which comes from Proto-West Germanic *skāri, from Proto-Germanic *skēriz (cutting, cuttable), from *skeraną (to shear), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (to cut off, sever, separate, divide) [source].

Words from the same roots include shear(s), shred, share, scourge, sharp, scrotum, cortex and carnage in English, scheren (to shear) in German, skörd (harvest) in Swedish, ysgar (separation, split, divorce) in Welsh, cena (dinner) in Italian and Spanish, and harr (to weed, prune) in Albanian [source].

So, scissors and shears are not related.

Another word with a silent / unnecessary c is schist [ʃɪst], which refers to any of a variety of coarse-grained crystalline metamorphic rocks with a foliated structure that allows easy division into slabs or slates.

It comes from French schiste [ʃist] (shale, schist), from Latin lapis schistos (“stone that is easy to split”), from Ancient Greek σχῐστός [skʰis.tós] (skhĭstós, cloven, divided, divisible), from σχῐ́ζω [skʰíz.dɔː] (skhĭ́zō, to split, cleave, divide), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *skeyd- (to divide, split) [source].

Words from the same PIE root include schism (a split or separation within a group or organization, typically caused by discord) and schizophrenia in English, scindere (to split up, divide, cleave) in Italian, and scheef (crooked, weird) in Dutch [source].

Nesting Niches

11 September 202512 September 2025 By Simon

What connects the word niche with nests? Let’s find out.

A niche include:

A cavity, hollow, or recess, generally within the thickness of a wall, for a statue, bust, or other erect ornament.
A function within an ecological system to which an organism is especially suited.
Any position of opportunity for which one is well-suited, such as a particular market in business.

There are several ways to pronounce it, including [niːʃ], which rhymes with leash, [nɪʃ], which rhymes with fish, and [nɪtʃ], which rhymes with pitch. Which one do you prefer?

It comes from French niche [niʃ] (niche, kennel), from Middle French niche, from Old French niche, from nicher (to make a nest), from Latin *nīdicāre (to nest), from nīdus (nest), Proto-Italic *nizdos (nest), from Proto-Indo-European *nisdós (nest), from *ni (down) & *sed- (sit) – literally “where [the bird] sits down” [source].

Words from the same PIE roots include neth (sprout, bud) in Albanian, նստել [nəsˈtel] (to sit, sink, fit, shrink) in Armenian, ligzda (nest) in Latvian, gniazdo (nest, socket) in Polish, नीड़ (nīṛ – nest) in Hindi, nead (nest, bed, lair, home, den) in Irish, and nido (nest, home, nursery school) in Italian [source].

The English word nest comes from the same PIE roots, via Middle English nest (nest), Old English nest (nest), Proto-West Germanic *nest (nest), and Proto-Germanic *nestą (nest, provisions, food and supplies) [source].

The English word nidus (an aggregate of neurons; a nest of insects or small animals) also comes from the same roots, via Latin nīdus (nest), as do nidation (the implantation of the early embryo in the uterus), nidificate (to make or build a nest), nidolody (the study of nests) and nidifugous (that leaves the nest shortly after hatching) [source].

The archaic English words nid(e) (a nest of pheasants) and nye (a brood or flock of pheasants), also share the same roots. They were probably borrowed from Middle French nid (nest), from Latin nīdus (nest) [source].

Yielding Payment

5 September 20255 September 2025 By Simon

What links the word yield with payments, tax and gold? Let’s find out.

Meanings of yield include:

To give as a result or outcome; to produce or render.
To give up; to surrender or capitulate.
A product.
The quantity of something produced.

And it used to mean payment, money or tribute.

The verb comes from Middle English yẹ̄lden (to relinquish, give up, surrender, to pay, to fullfil an obligation), from Old English ġieldan (to pay, to reward, to worship), from Proto-West Germanic *geldan (to pay for), from Proto-Germanic *geldaną (to pay, to have/give value), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰeldʰ- (to pay, to repay).

The noun comes from the same PIE root, via Middle English yẹ̄ld (tax, agricultural yield, reward, recompense), Old English ġield (payment, tax, tribute, cost), Proto-West Germanic *geld (payment), and Proto-Germanic *geldą (reward, gift, money) [source].

Words from the same roots include guild in English, geld (money) and gelden (to apply, count, be considered) in Dutch, Geld (money) and gelten (to be valid, count, be worth) in German, gjald (fee, payment) and gjalda (to pay) in Icelandic, gæld (debt, debts) and gælde (to hold good, be valid) in Danish, gille (feast, guild) in Swedish, and geall (pledge, pawn, token, bet, asset, prize) in Irish [source].

The English word gelt means money, tribute, tax, or chocolate coins usually eaten on Hanukkah (a.k.a. Hanukkah gelt). It originated in thieves’ cant and Polari in the UK, and was later adopted by Jews and used in general slang. It comes from the same roots as yield, etc, via Middle High German gelt (money) and Yiddish געלט (gelt – money) [source].

The English word geld, which historically meant a payment, particularly a medieval form of land tax, also comes from the same roots [source]. It is found in Danegeld, a tax raised originally to pay tribute or protection money to the Viking raiders in the 10th and 11th centuries and later continued as a land tax [source].

Gigs, Jigs & Fiddles

25 July 202525 July 2025 By Simon

What links the words gig and jig, and what do they have to do a German word Geige (violin)? Let’s find out.

A gig [ɡɪɡ] can mean:

A live performance by a musician, band, musicial group or comedian
A job or role for a performer (in film, television, theatre, etc.)
Any job, especially one that is freelance or temporary, or done on an on-demand basis. Other meanings are available [source].

Its origins are lost in the mists of etymology, but its possibly related to the Old French word gigue (a string instrument similar to a mandolin, a kind of dance), which comes from Frankish *gīge (dance, fiddle), from Proto-Germanic *gīganą (to move, wish, desire), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰeyǵʰ- (to yawn, gape, long for, desire) [source].

The German word Geige [ˈɡaɪ̯ɡə] (violin, fiddle) possibly comes from the same roots, via Middle High German gīge, Old High German gīga and Proto-Germanic *gīganą (to move, wish, desire), etc [source].

The English word jig refers to such things as a light, brisk musical movement; a lively traditional Irish dance in 6/8 time, also known as a double jig (other types of jig are available); or an English Morris dance performed by one or two individual dancers. It shares the same roots as gig and Geige – maybe via Middle English gyge (fiddle), from Old French gigue etc. [source].

Another word from the same roots is guinguette, which in English and French is an old name for a sort of outdoor tavern that once existed in the suburbs of Paris, and appears to be used in modern French to refer to any outdoor bar (see above). It comes from French guinguet (a rough wine produced near Paris), from ginguer (to run, play, move a lot), from giguer (to dance, jump), from gigue (a string instrment, a jig, etc), and so on [source].

The word gig can also refer to:

A small, narrow, open boat carried in a larger ship, and used for transportation between the ship and the shore, another vessel, etc.
A similar rowing boat or sailboat, especially one used for racing; specifically, a six-oared sea rowing boat commonly found in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (see above).
A two-wheeled carriage drawn by a single horse.

It comes from Middle English gigg (spinning object, a top), possibly from Old Norse (?), from Proto-Germanic *gīganą (to move, wish, desire), etc, or ultimately onomatopoeic [source].

Shiny Sheens Show

17 July 202517 July 2025 By Simon

Are the words show, sheen and shine connected? Let’s find out.

Show [ʃəʊ / ʃoʊ] means a play, dance or other entertainment; an exhibition of items, etc. It comes from Middle English schewe (show), from schewen (to show), from Old English scēawian (to watch, look at, examine, show), from Proto-West Germanic *skawwōn, from Proto-Germanic *skawwōną (to look, see, watch), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kewh₁- (to perceive, observe) [source].

A sheen [ʃiːn] is a thin layer of a substance (such as oil) spread on a solid or liquid surface; splendor, radiance or shininess. It comes from Middle English shene (beautiful, fair, handsome, glorious), from Old English sċīene (beautiful, fair, bright, brilliant, light), from Proto-West Germanic *skaunī (beautiful), from Proto-Germanic *skauniz (beautiful), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kewh₁- (to perceive, observe) [source].

Other words from the PIE root *(s)kewh₁- include caution in English, choyer (to cherish, pamper, coddle) in French, cauto (cautious) in Spanish, cautela (caution, care) in Italian, precaver (to prevent, take precautions) in Portuguese, czuć (to feel, sense) in Polish, and qyr (to observe, look, analyse) in Albanian [source].

Shine [ʃaɪn] means to emit or reflect light so as to glow, etc. It comes from Middle English schinen (to shine, stand out), from Old English sċīnan (tp shine), from Proto-West Germanic *skīnan (to shine, appear), from Proto-Germanic *skīnaną (to shine, appear), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ḱeh₁y- (to shine, shimmer) [source].

Other words from the PIE root *(s)ḱeh₁y- possibly include sheer and tinsel in English, schijnen (to shine, appear, seem) in Dutch, scheinen (to shine, gleam, seem, appear) in German, skina (to shine) in Swedish, siljati (to shine, beam, glitter) in Slovenian, and skaer (glow, glimmer, tinge) in Danish [source].

So show and sheen are related, but shine isn’t.

Here are a song called Show by Ado, a Japanese singer. It’s had 238 million views in a year – a few more than my videos – so she’s quite popular:

Gasting Flabbers

26 June 2025 By Simon

Is a flabbergast a gast that’s flabbered? Let’s find out.

A flabbergast is an awkward person, or an overwhelming confusion, shock or surprise, and to flabbergast is to overwhelm with bewilderment, or to amaze, confound, or stun, especially in a ludicrous manner.

Related words include

flabbergastion = bewildered shock or surprise; the state or condition of being flabbergasted
flabbergaster = a person, thing, fact or event that is flabbergasting, or that causes extreme shock; a state of surprise or fear
flabbergastly = surprisingly, astonishingly or amazingly

Flabbergast possibly comes from the Suffolk dialect words flap(py) (to strike) and aghast (terrified), or from Scots flabrigast (to swagger, boast, quite worn out, extremely fatigued). There are also versions of this word from Lancashire: flobbergrast and Northampton: flappergast [source].

Aghast means terrified; struck with amazement, or showing signs of terror or horror. It comes from Middle English agast, from agasten (to frighten or terrify), from Old English gǣstan (to frighten, gast, torment, afflict), from Proto-West Germanic *gaistijan, from Proto-Germanic *gaistijaną, which is related to *gaistaz (fear, terror, spirit, ghost, mind) [source].

Related words include ghost, ghast (an evil spirit or monster) and ghastly in English, gast (ghost) in Swedish, geest (ghost, spirit, mind) in Dutch, and Geist (spirit, essense, mind, ghost) in German [source].

Incidentally, gast is an old word in English meaning to frighten, and also comes from the same roots [source], as does the Old English word gāst (spirit, ghost, breath, demon), which became gost / gast / gaast / goost / goste in Middle English [source]. It acquired an h and became ghoost in the late 15th century due to influence from the Flemish word gheest, possibly thanks to Wynkyn de Worde, William Caxton‘s assistant [source].

Dwile Flonking

18 June 2025 By Simon

Have you ever flonked a dwile or gathered your girt in a snurd?

Dwile flonking is mentioned in a novel I’m currently reading, Fiends in High Places by D.C. Farmer, and as I had no idea what it meant, I thought I’d find out.

According to Wiktionary, dwile flonking is

“An obscure and intentionally preposterous sport in which teams take turns to dance while avoiding a “dwile” (beer-soaked cloth) thrown by their opponents.” It is also written dwile flunking, dwyle flonking, dwyle flunking. The first documented game took place in 1966 [source].

According to Wikipedia,

“dwile flonking, dwyle flunking or nurdling is a British pub game played by two teams, with one dancing around in a circle, while a player from the other team attempts to hit them by throwing a beer-soaked cloth. The game is associated with the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk. Although the game can supposedly be traced back to the 16th century, it is thought to have been invented in the mid-1960s [source].

Apparently dwile flonking requires a dwile, a driveller (a stick of some kind) and a bucket full of beer. The dwile is soaked in beer, then one team forms a snurd (circle) of girts, while a member of the other team, the flonker, stands in the middle holding a dwile on a driveller. The jobanowl (referee) yells let’s go t’gither, and the girts begin to girt (dance in a circle) in one direction, while the flonker turns in the other direction and attempts to flonk the dwile at or over the head of one of the girts. Participants dress up in local rustic attire, and drink rather a lot of beer before, during and after the flonking of the dwile. Other ridiculous rules apply. See TradFolk for details.

It sounds like an ideal sport for the Olympics, and is in fact included in the Cotswold Olimpick Games, and is played annually in Beccles and Lewes in East Sussex in the south of England.

Dwile used to refer to a cloth for wiping or cleaning, and comes from Dutch dweil (floorcloth, mop, worthless person, weakling), from Middle Dutch dwâle (cloth, towel), from Old Dutch *thwāla (towel, washcloth), from Proto-West Germanic *þwahilu (towel, washcloth), from *þwahan (to wash, bathe) from Proto-Germanic *þwahaną (to wash, bathe) [source].

Words from the same roots include þvo (to wash, do laundry) in Icelandic, två (to wash) and tvål (soap) in Swedish, tovaglia (tablecloth, cloth) in Italian, toalha (towel, tablecloth) in Portuguese, and towel in English [source].

Flonking possibly comes from flong, an old past tense form of fling, which comes from Middle English flyngen (to dash, rush, charge, fly, strike, throw, fling), from Old Norse flengja / ᚠᛚᛁᚾᚴᛁᛅ (to whip, ride furiously), from Proto-Germanic *flangijaną, from Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂k- [source].

Stages & Balconies

12 June 2025 By Simon

What links the Italian word palco (stage), with words like balcony, plank and block? Let’s find out.

Palco [ˈpal.ko] means platform, stand, layer, (theatre) box, stage, antler in Italian. Related words include palchetto (shelf, sidebar, upper tier box), palchettista (boxholder – ticket holder for the gallery or an upper tier box [in a theatre]), palcoscenico (stage), sottopalco (understage (area), backstage), and spalcare (to dismantle scaffolding, to prune or lop [trees]) [source].

It comes from Lombardic palk (stand, stage), from Old High German balko (beam), from Proto-West Germanic *balkō (beam, balk), from Proto-Germanic *balkô (beam, balk), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *bʰelǵ- (beam, plank), or from PIE *bʰelǵʰ- (to swell) [source].

The English word balcony comes from the same roots, via Italian balcone (balcony, floor-length window), Old Italian balcone (scaffold), Lombardic *balk(o) (beam), Proto-Germanic *balkô (beam, balk), etc [source].

Plank also shares the same roots, but arrived via Middle English plank(e) (plank, counter, tablet, prop), Old French planke (plank, board), Late Latin planca (slat, plank), from Latin palanca (slat, plank, stake), from phalanga (wooden roller, carrying pole), from Ancient Greek φᾰ́λᾰγγᾰ (phắlăngă – phalanx, battle order), from φάλαγξ (phálanx – line of battle, phalanx, main body, trunk, log, beam), from PIE *bʰelǵ- (beam, plank) [source].

Block comes to us from Middle English blok (log, stump), from Old French bloc (log, block), from Middle Dutch blok (treetrunk), from Old Dutch *blok (log), from Proto-West Germanic *blokk (block, log), from Proto-Germanic *blukką (block, log, beam), from PIE *bʰelǵ- (beam, plank) [source].

Other words from the same roots include balk, bulk, fulcrum and phalanx in English, balk (beam, solid support) in Dutch, Balken (beam, bar) in German, balcão (counter, balcony) in Portuguese, and folcire (to support, sustain, guide, direct), fulcro (fulcrum, pivot,crux, core, thrust) and falca (gunwhale) in Italian [source].

Strong Names

5 June 2025 By Simon

What connects the names Cathal, Ronald, Valerie and Walter? Let’s find out.

Where’s Walter / Wally?

The name Cathal comes from Irish Cathal [ˈkahəlˠ], from Old Irish Cathal, from Proto-Celtic *Katuwalos from *katus (battle) and *walos (prince, chief), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁- (to rule, to be strong). The Welsh names Cadwal and Cadwaladr come from the same roots [source].

Names that also share the Proto-Celtic root *walos (prince, chief) include Conall – from *kū (dog, wolf) and *walos; Donald / Domhnall from *dubnos (world) and *walos, and (O’)Toole – from *toutā (people, tribe, tribal land) and *walos [source].

The name Ronald comes from Scottish Gaelic Raghnall [ˈrˠɤ̃ː.əl̪ˠ], from Old Norse Rǫgnvaldr, from Proto-Germanic *Raginawaldaz from *raginą (decision, advice, counsel) and *waldaz (wielder, rule), from *waldaną (to rule), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁- (to rule, to be strong) [source].

Names that also share the Proto-Germanic root *waldaz (wielder, rule) include Harold – from *harjaz (army, commander, warrior) and *waldaz; Oswald – from *ansuz (deity, god) and *waldaz; Gerald – from *gaizaz (spear, pike, javelin) and *waldaz, and Walter – from *waldaz and *harjaz (army, commander, warrior) [source].

The name Valerie comes from French Valérie, from Latin Valeria, a feminine form of the Roman family name Valerius, from Latin valere (to be strong), from valeō (to be strong, to be powerful, to be healthy, to be worthy), from Proto-Italic *waleō (to be strong) from Proto-Indo-European *h₂wl̥h₁éh₁yeti, from *h₂welh₁- (to rule, to be strong) [source]. Names from the same Latin roots include Valentine, Valeria and Valencia.

Parts of all these names can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂welh₁- (to rule, to be strong) – the same is true for the names Arnold, Reginald, Reynold and Vlad(imir) [source].

Other words from the same PIE root include: ambivalent, cuckold, evaluation, invalid, prevalence, unwieldy, valour and value in English, gwlad (country, sovereignty) and gwaladr (ruler, sovereign) in Welsh, walten (to rule, exercise control) in German, vallita (to prevail, predominate, reign) in Finnish, vládnout (to rule, reign) in Czech, and власт (vlast – power, authority, influence, government) in Bulgarian [source].

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Category: Proto-Germanic