Posts

What is schmutter?

Image
schmutter [ˈʃmʌtə]  noun

Where does the word OK come from?

Image
The word OK entered American English in the 19th century and is now one of the most popular in the language. But there is little agreement as to its origins.

What is an octothorpe?

Image
In the 1960s engineers at Bell Labs were designing the first touch keyboard telephones.

How did Japanese words enter the English language?

Image
Oxford English Dictionary editor, John Simpson, explains how Japanese words entered English in three distinct historical phases.

Which American term did Sergeant Pepper introduce to Britain?

Image

What is a rookie? Where does the word come from?

Image
A rookie is someone new to a particular situation or recently promoted to a higher level of competition or responsibility.