David Tickner's Blog, page 47
July 10, 2020
Book
The word book has its origins in the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root bhago (beech tree). PIE bhago is the source of Latin fagus, the scientific name for the botanical genus of beech trees.
From PIE bhago evolved Proto-Germanic bokiz (beech) and modern German buche (beech) and buchstaben (a beech stick). Beech wood, because of its softness and ease of cutting, was most often used as a medium for the use of runes (i.e., any of several alphabets used by Germanic peoples from about the 3rd to the 13th centuries) which were carved into the wood. Perhaps it is not surprising that German buch (book) comes from buche (beech tree).
Similarly, the French word for book (livre) comes from Latin librum (the inner bark of trees) and originally from PIE lubh-ro (leaf, rind) and PIE leub(h) (to strip, to peel). The word library also comes from these sources.
The Old English word boc (book), from Proto-Germanic bokiz, originally meant any written document. Later, the word book came to mean a written work of many pages fastened together and bound.
Today, books are made from paper which of course comes from trees. From bokiz to buch to boc to book—a book literally and figuratively comes from trees.
Perhaps it is not surprising to consider the image of the tree has been used as a symbol of knowledge although this image might have to change if more and more people begin to get their knowledge from YouTube!
Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
From PIE bhago evolved Proto-Germanic bokiz (beech) and modern German buche (beech) and buchstaben (a beech stick). Beech wood, because of its softness and ease of cutting, was most often used as a medium for the use of runes (i.e., any of several alphabets used by Germanic peoples from about the 3rd to the 13th centuries) which were carved into the wood. Perhaps it is not surprising that German buch (book) comes from buche (beech tree).
Similarly, the French word for book (livre) comes from Latin librum (the inner bark of trees) and originally from PIE lubh-ro (leaf, rind) and PIE leub(h) (to strip, to peel). The word library also comes from these sources.
The Old English word boc (book), from Proto-Germanic bokiz, originally meant any written document. Later, the word book came to mean a written work of many pages fastened together and bound.
Today, books are made from paper which of course comes from trees. From bokiz to buch to boc to book—a book literally and figuratively comes from trees.
Perhaps it is not surprising to consider the image of the tree has been used as a symbol of knowledge although this image might have to change if more and more people begin to get their knowledge from YouTube!
Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
Beekeeper / Apiarist
A bee has always been a bee, or should I say, a bhei? That is, the word bee has its origins in Proto-Indo-European (PIE) bhei (bee), a term that is from four to six thousand years old. Not as old as bees themselves though. PIE bhei is the root of Proto-Germanic bion which is the source of Old Norse by, Old High German bia, Middle Dutch bie, and Old English beo. Speaking scientifically, a bee is a stinging insect of the genus apis, from which comes apiary and apiarist.
The word keeper comes to English around 1300 as ‘one who has charge of some person or thing’, from Old English cepan (to seize, hold, seek after) and Proto-Germanic kopjan, a word of uncertain origin.
The word apiary, from the 1650s, comes from Latin apiarium (bee-house, beehive) and apis (bee), “a mystery word unrelated to any similar words in other Indo-European languages” (Online Etymological Dictionary). The word apiarist, or beekeeper, is from 1816.
The word keeper comes to English around 1300 as ‘one who has charge of some person or thing’, from Old English cepan (to seize, hold, seek after) and Proto-Germanic kopjan, a word of uncertain origin.
The word apiary, from the 1650s, comes from Latin apiarium (bee-house, beehive) and apis (bee), “a mystery word unrelated to any similar words in other Indo-European languages” (Online Etymological Dictionary). The word apiarist, or beekeeper, is from 1816.
July 9, 2020
Slogan
The word slogan has its origins in the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root gar (to call, to cry). From this root comes Greek gerys (voice, sound), a term which eventually ends up as the English word garrulous. But that’s another story.
PIE gar is also the source of Gaelic gairm (a cry). The Gaelic word sluagh (army), from Celtic slough (help, service), combined with gairm forms sluagh-ghairm (a battle cry), a term used by the Scottish Highland and Irish clans.
The English word, slogan, originally slogorne (1510s), from sluagh-ghairm, is from the 1670s. The use of the word slogan to mean a distinctive word or phrase used by a political or other group is from 1704.
Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
PIE gar is also the source of Gaelic gairm (a cry). The Gaelic word sluagh (army), from Celtic slough (help, service), combined with gairm forms sluagh-ghairm (a battle cry), a term used by the Scottish Highland and Irish clans.
The English word, slogan, originally slogorne (1510s), from sluagh-ghairm, is from the 1670s. The use of the word slogan to mean a distinctive word or phrase used by a political or other group is from 1704.
Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
Bartender
Originally, back in the 1590s, a ‘bar’ was a barrier or counter over which drinks and food were served. The word 12th century word ‘bar’ (a stake or rod of iron used to fasten a door or gate) came to English from Old French barre and before that from Latin barra (bar, barrier). Seems like there has often been a connotation of restrictions or
bar
riers related to bars.
The 15th century word ‘tender’, meaning a person who tends, comes from Middle English tenden (attend to) and atenden (to attend) from Old French atendre (to expect, to wait for, to pay attention) and Latin attendere (to give heed to, to stretch toward). The root of these words is Proto-Indo-European (PIE) ten (to stretch).
The word bartender is from 1836. The term barman, from 1883, was also known as a ‘tender’. Before any of this, however, a ‘tender’ referred to a locomotive engineer (1825).
Reference: Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
The 15th century word ‘tender’, meaning a person who tends, comes from Middle English tenden (attend to) and atenden (to attend) from Old French atendre (to expect, to wait for, to pay attention) and Latin attendere (to give heed to, to stretch toward). The root of these words is Proto-Indo-European (PIE) ten (to stretch).
The word bartender is from 1836. The term barman, from 1883, was also known as a ‘tender’. Before any of this, however, a ‘tender’ referred to a locomotive engineer (1825).
Reference: Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
July 8, 2020
Learning Objective
Learning
Do you ever feel when you’re doing something that you’re ‘in the groove’ or ‘in the zone’? When you’re learning, you really are in the groove; or, to be more specific, in the furrow.
The word learning has its origins in the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root lois (furrow, track). From this source comes Proto-Germanic lisnojanan, Old Frisian lernia, Dutch leren, German lernen, and Old English leornian (to learn). The word learning is from Old English leornung (the action of acquiring knowledge). The word learning, from the mid-14th century, means knowledge acquired by systematic study, research, and experimentation.
PIE lois (track) is also the source of Old English laeste (a shoemaker’s last), the model of a human foot. Old English laeste is from Proto-Germanic laisti, also the source of Old English loeran (to teach). Perhaps a learner can be said to be someone following in the footsteps or track of a teacher?
Object, Objective
The word object has its origins in PIE ye (to throw, to impel; PIE ye is also the origin of the word jet), Latin obicere: ob- (in front of, towards, against) + iacere (to throw), and Latin objectus (lying before, opposite). Latin objectum means ‘the thing put before or in front of’, a word which is the source in the late 14th century of the English word object (a tangible thing, something perceived with or presented to the senses).
An object is something put before (or even thrown before) the senses. As a verb, ‘to object’ (e.g., “I object, your Honor”) is to throw down a challenge (i.e., an ‘objection’).
An objective, meaning a goal or aim, is from 1881.
Learning Objective
A learning objective is a statement which describes what a student will be able to do or perform as a result of instruction and how well the student is expected to perform. The concept and practice of writing such learning objectives, pioneered by Robert Mager in the early 1960s, focuses on what the student will do rather than what the teacher will do.
A learning objective is a challenge or an expectation presented to a student.
Reference: Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
Do you ever feel when you’re doing something that you’re ‘in the groove’ or ‘in the zone’? When you’re learning, you really are in the groove; or, to be more specific, in the furrow.
The word learning has its origins in the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root lois (furrow, track). From this source comes Proto-Germanic lisnojanan, Old Frisian lernia, Dutch leren, German lernen, and Old English leornian (to learn). The word learning is from Old English leornung (the action of acquiring knowledge). The word learning, from the mid-14th century, means knowledge acquired by systematic study, research, and experimentation.
PIE lois (track) is also the source of Old English laeste (a shoemaker’s last), the model of a human foot. Old English laeste is from Proto-Germanic laisti, also the source of Old English loeran (to teach). Perhaps a learner can be said to be someone following in the footsteps or track of a teacher?
Object, Objective
The word object has its origins in PIE ye (to throw, to impel; PIE ye is also the origin of the word jet), Latin obicere: ob- (in front of, towards, against) + iacere (to throw), and Latin objectus (lying before, opposite). Latin objectum means ‘the thing put before or in front of’, a word which is the source in the late 14th century of the English word object (a tangible thing, something perceived with or presented to the senses).
An object is something put before (or even thrown before) the senses. As a verb, ‘to object’ (e.g., “I object, your Honor”) is to throw down a challenge (i.e., an ‘objection’).
An objective, meaning a goal or aim, is from 1881.
Learning Objective
A learning objective is a statement which describes what a student will be able to do or perform as a result of instruction and how well the student is expected to perform. The concept and practice of writing such learning objectives, pioneered by Robert Mager in the early 1960s, focuses on what the student will do rather than what the teacher will do.
A learning objective is a challenge or an expectation presented to a student.
Reference: Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
Automobile Collision Repair
Automobile
Auto is from Greek autos (self, same, of oneself), a word of unknown origin. Mobile is from the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root meue (to push away), Latin movere (to move), and Latin mobilis (movable, easy to move; loose, not firm). The word mobile meaning capable of movement or of being moved, not fixed or stationary, came to English in the late 15th century.
The word automobile (a self-propelled motor vehicle), from 1895, is from French automobile (short for véhicule automobile). Earlier versions of the word automobile include locomobile, motorcar, and autocar. Modern Greek uses the term autokineto. The term electromobile (electric car) is from 1899. The short-form use of ‘auto’ is also from 1899.
Collision
The word collision (the act of striking or dashing together) comes to English in the early 15th century from Latin collisionem (a dashing together) and Latin collidere (to strike together, to injure by striking). The verb ‘to collide’, from Latin collidere, comes to English in the 1620s meaning ‘to strike together forcibly’.
Repair
The word repair has its source in the PIE root pere (to produce, procure) and Latin reparare (to restore, to put back in order), from re- (again) + parare (make ready, prepare). The word repair (to mend, put back in order) comes to English in the mid-14th century from 12th century Old French reparer (repair, mend).
Reference: Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
Auto is from Greek autos (self, same, of oneself), a word of unknown origin. Mobile is from the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root meue (to push away), Latin movere (to move), and Latin mobilis (movable, easy to move; loose, not firm). The word mobile meaning capable of movement or of being moved, not fixed or stationary, came to English in the late 15th century.
The word automobile (a self-propelled motor vehicle), from 1895, is from French automobile (short for véhicule automobile). Earlier versions of the word automobile include locomobile, motorcar, and autocar. Modern Greek uses the term autokineto. The term electromobile (electric car) is from 1899. The short-form use of ‘auto’ is also from 1899.
Collision
The word collision (the act of striking or dashing together) comes to English in the early 15th century from Latin collisionem (a dashing together) and Latin collidere (to strike together, to injure by striking). The verb ‘to collide’, from Latin collidere, comes to English in the 1620s meaning ‘to strike together forcibly’.
Repair
The word repair has its source in the PIE root pere (to produce, procure) and Latin reparare (to restore, to put back in order), from re- (again) + parare (make ready, prepare). The word repair (to mend, put back in order) comes to English in the mid-14th century from 12th century Old French reparer (repair, mend).
Reference: Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
July 7, 2020
Zoom Fatigue
Zoom
Zoom. Zoom.
The verb zoom is first seen in 1886. The noun zoom is first seen in 1917. At this time, zoom gained popularity as aviators began to use it. A zoom lens, as in ‘to quickly move closer’, is from 1936.
The word zoom came into being at a time when objects were beginning to move faster and faster; e.g., trains. And later, automobiles and airplanes.
Who was the first person to say “zoom”? Why would they make up a word like this? To use a technical term, zoom is an ‘echoism’; that is, the echoing of a sound heard. I can hear an old biplane zooming by as it takes off. But what would a person in the 1880s have heard that would make them say “zoom”?
Fatigue
The word fatigue has its origins in Latin fati-agos (driving to the point of breakdown), a term comprised of fatis (a word of unknown origin, but related to affatim = sufficiently and to fatisci = to crack, split) and agere (to set in motion, drive, do perform), from the Proto-Indo-European root ag (to drive, draw out or forth, move). From Latin fati-agos comes French fatiguer (to tire) and fatigue (weariness) and by the 1660s the word fatigue came to English meaning that which causes weariness.
Fatigue meaning a feeling of weariness from exertion is from 1719. Fatigue meaning the labors of military persons is from 1776. The term fatigue used to describe metals or other materials under strain is from 1877.
Zoom fatigue
‘Zoom fatigue’ from May 2020; e.g.,
https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/zoom-fatigue-is-setting-in-1.5585933
Reference: Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
Zoom. Zoom.
The verb zoom is first seen in 1886. The noun zoom is first seen in 1917. At this time, zoom gained popularity as aviators began to use it. A zoom lens, as in ‘to quickly move closer’, is from 1936.
The word zoom came into being at a time when objects were beginning to move faster and faster; e.g., trains. And later, automobiles and airplanes.
Who was the first person to say “zoom”? Why would they make up a word like this? To use a technical term, zoom is an ‘echoism’; that is, the echoing of a sound heard. I can hear an old biplane zooming by as it takes off. But what would a person in the 1880s have heard that would make them say “zoom”?
Fatigue
The word fatigue has its origins in Latin fati-agos (driving to the point of breakdown), a term comprised of fatis (a word of unknown origin, but related to affatim = sufficiently and to fatisci = to crack, split) and agere (to set in motion, drive, do perform), from the Proto-Indo-European root ag (to drive, draw out or forth, move). From Latin fati-agos comes French fatiguer (to tire) and fatigue (weariness) and by the 1660s the word fatigue came to English meaning that which causes weariness.
Fatigue meaning a feeling of weariness from exertion is from 1719. Fatigue meaning the labors of military persons is from 1776. The term fatigue used to describe metals or other materials under strain is from 1877.
Zoom fatigue
‘Zoom fatigue’ from May 2020; e.g.,
https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/zoom-fatigue-is-setting-in-1.5585933
Reference: Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
Apprentice
The word apprentice comes from Latin apprehendere (to take hold of, to grasp mentally or physically). In medieval Latin, apprehendere meant ‘to learn’. From these roots came Old French apprentiz (someone learning) and by around 1300 the word apprentice appears in English meaning someone bound by legal agreement to an employer to learn a trade or craft.
The legal contract between an employer and an apprentice was called an ‘indenture’, from Latin dens (tooth) and indent (to bite into). An ‘indenture’ was signed, torn in half raggedly, saw-toothlike, and the employer and apprentice each got ‘half’ the contract so that no changes could be made after the fact. Sounds like something you could really sink your teeth into.
The word apprenticeship, from the 1590s, replaced the 14th century word apprenticehood. The verb ‘to apprentice’ is from the 1630s.
The legal contract between an employer and an apprentice was called an ‘indenture’, from Latin dens (tooth) and indent (to bite into). An ‘indenture’ was signed, torn in half raggedly, saw-toothlike, and the employer and apprentice each got ‘half’ the contract so that no changes could be made after the fact. Sounds like something you could really sink your teeth into.
The word apprenticeship, from the 1590s, replaced the 14th century word apprenticehood. The verb ‘to apprentice’ is from the 1630s.
July 6, 2020
Teach, Teacher
The verb teach has its origins in the ancient Proto-Indo-European root deik (to show, to point out). PIE deik is the root of Proto-Germanic taikijan (to show) and Old English toecan (to show, point out, declare, demonstrate; to give instruction, train, assign, direct, warn, persuade).
Old English toecan is related to Old English tacen (a sign, a mark) from which comes the word token, suggesting, perhaps, that a teacher is a token or sign or example of what is being taught—the teacher practices what she or he preaches.
The Old English word tecunge (meaning both that which is taught and the act of teaching) is from the late 13th century. This word tecunge appears to suggest that the teacher, as a ‘token’, embodies both ‘what’ is taught and ‘how’ something is taught. Or, as is said in contemporary teacher training, “We teach who we are.”
The word teacher, one who teaches, comes to English from Old English toecan in the early 14th century. The word ‘teachable’ meaning persons capable of being taught is from the late 15th century and meaning subjects to be taught is from the 1660s. The phrase ‘teachable moment’ is from 1917 although it was not common until the 1960s.
On another note, the ancient Chinese ceremony for the initiation of new teachers was known as the Tea Ching.
Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
Old English toecan is related to Old English tacen (a sign, a mark) from which comes the word token, suggesting, perhaps, that a teacher is a token or sign or example of what is being taught—the teacher practices what she or he preaches.
The Old English word tecunge (meaning both that which is taught and the act of teaching) is from the late 13th century. This word tecunge appears to suggest that the teacher, as a ‘token’, embodies both ‘what’ is taught and ‘how’ something is taught. Or, as is said in contemporary teacher training, “We teach who we are.”
The word teacher, one who teaches, comes to English from Old English toecan in the early 14th century. The word ‘teachable’ meaning persons capable of being taught is from the late 15th century and meaning subjects to be taught is from the 1660s. The phrase ‘teachable moment’ is from 1917 although it was not common until the 1960s.
On another note, the ancient Chinese ceremony for the initiation of new teachers was known as the Tea Ching.
Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
Anesthesiologist
From Greek anaisthesia (insensibility; want of feeling or perception, lack of sensation to pleasure or pain); from Greek an- (without) + aisethesis (feeling), from the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root au- (to perceive). Anesthesiologist, from 1943.
Anesthesia as a loss of feeling is from 1721. Anesthesia as a procedure for the prevention of pain in surgical operations is from 1846. Anesthetic, an agent that produces anesthesia, is from 1848 (in particular, the surgical use of chloroform). Anesthesiology as the science that deals with the means and methods of producing in man or animal various degrees of insensibility with or without hypnosis is from 1908.
Anesthesia as a loss of feeling is from 1721. Anesthesia as a procedure for the prevention of pain in surgical operations is from 1846. Anesthetic, an agent that produces anesthesia, is from 1848 (in particular, the surgical use of chloroform). Anesthesiology as the science that deals with the means and methods of producing in man or animal various degrees of insensibility with or without hypnosis is from 1908.
