Have you ever wondered where certain words come from? I recently encountered one.
Bowl. Now the noun is understandable, its original meaning was something like a round vessel. Makes sense. It's the verb that confuses me. Where on earth did that one come from?
How do you "bowl" someone over? Why is it called "bowling"? Dictionary.com seems to suggest that it can mean "to roll a bowl or ball". I want to know who's brilliant idea it was to start rolling bowls at things. If you have any ideas... let me know.
Here are two English words that are used wrong ALL THE TIME... and it irks me a bit.
1. Blasphemy - the crime of assuming to oneself the rights or qualities of God.
For some reason people say blasphemy when they mean sacrilege (the violation or profanation of anything sacred or held sacred). I don't know how that one started getting confused.
2. Irony - an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been, expected
The song "Ironic" by Alannis Morisette is not ironic. Rain on your wedding day? That's not ironic. What would be ironic is if you were from Seattle and wanted to have a rainless outdoor wedding so you planned it in Las Vegas... and it rained. That's ironic. Traffic jam when you're already late? That's not ironic, that's poor planning or hitting the snooze button too much. I think what's ironic about her song is that its named "Ironic". Tricky.
Well, those are my English musings. Besides reading, it's the only thing I'm qualified to do with my English degree.
Bowl. Now the noun is understandable, its original meaning was something like a round vessel. Makes sense. It's the verb that confuses me. Where on earth did that one come from?
How do you "bowl" someone over? Why is it called "bowling"? Dictionary.com seems to suggest that it can mean "to roll a bowl or ball". I want to know who's brilliant idea it was to start rolling bowls at things. If you have any ideas... let me know.
Here are two English words that are used wrong ALL THE TIME... and it irks me a bit.
1. Blasphemy - the crime of assuming to oneself the rights or qualities of God.
For some reason people say blasphemy when they mean sacrilege (the violation or profanation of anything sacred or held sacred). I don't know how that one started getting confused.
2. Irony - an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been, expected
The song "Ironic" by Alannis Morisette is not ironic. Rain on your wedding day? That's not ironic. What would be ironic is if you were from Seattle and wanted to have a rainless outdoor wedding so you planned it in Las Vegas... and it rained. That's ironic. Traffic jam when you're already late? That's not ironic, that's poor planning or hitting the snooze button too much. I think what's ironic about her song is that its named "Ironic". Tricky.
Well, those are my English musings. Besides reading, it's the only thing I'm qualified to do with my English degree.
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