Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast.

• 106. Christmas Songs

  This podcast returns late January 2026. This episode begins with why Christmas carols were banned in the 17th century, and how the word carol comes from a French term for a dance performed by singers. Words like ditty, jingle and number are all used to describe Christmas songs, with number tracing back to theatre running orders. The episode also examines the etymologies of words found in carol lyrics, including gaily, orient, stranger and abhor, which shares a root with horrible and horrid. Instruments associated with Christmas sounds feature too, from bells and organs to the lesser known shawm, carillon and celeste, whose name comes from the French word for heavenly.

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• 105. Etiquette

  This time we're getting into terms of etiquette and the origins of certain expected behaviours, starting with the word etiquette itself, which shares a root with ticket because rules of behaviour were once written on small tabs. There are many theories about why placing your elbows on the table is considered rude, with one explanation linked to the need for stability. Forks were originally viewed as pretentious tools before becoming symbols of proper dining. In this context protocol refers to the formal rules that govern conduct, and its etymology goes back to the 'first page' of a document, from ancient Greek roots meaning first and glue. The episode also uncovers the origins of terms describing poor behaviour, including crude, vulgar, uncouth and boorish, the last of which is linked to the Dutch, along with expressions such as hoity-toity, toffee-nosed and la-di-da.

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• 104. Scotland

  This episode marks St Andrew's Day by looking at the origins of terms linked to Scottish dialects. It begins with the etymologies of Scotland and other historical names for the region, including Caledonia and Alba. The episode also examines the various theories behind the word haggis, with explanations pointing to Old Norse and French roots. Wee, meaning little, is unmistakably Scottish, but other everyday English words such as glamour, numpty and eejit also have Scottish connections. Landscape terms including ben, brae, cairn and loch are explored, along with the origins of place names like Edinburgh, Falkirk and Dundee. Cullen skink, a soup of smoked haddock, has a name origin that is more meaty than fishy, and the word whisky translates to 'water of life', echoing similar meanings in other spirit terms such as eau de vie, akvavit and vodka.

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• 103. Names: Cross Cultural

  This episode looks at names that work across cultures, names that sound alike but emerge from entirely different linguistic roots. It opens with demographic data from the USA and from England and Wales that helps explain why many parents now seek names that fit multiple cultural contexts. In England and Wales, 37% of newborns have a parent born abroad, and in the USA approval of mixed marriage has risen from 4% in 1958 to 94% today. The name Maya or Maia can mean beloved, magic, brave, princess or mother, with possible origins in Hebrew, Greek, Sanskrit, Arabic and an Indigenous language of New Zealand. Idris in Welsh means ardent lord, while in Arabic it is said to mean studious or smart. The Irish name Ciaran and the South Asian name Kiran sound similar, yet their etymologies move in opposite directions: one means dark, the other light.  Also explored are the names Chika, Naomi, Bo, Arya and Dylan.

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• 102. Manifesting

  This time we're looking at words connected to the art of manifesting, tracing the origins of terms like abundance, affirmation and visualise. To describe what we sense from a person but can't see, we turn to words such as vibe, aura and energy, the last of which comes from the ancient Greek ergon, meaning work, a root shared with ergonomic and synergy. Some words run counter to the idea of manifesting, like doubt, which may stem from the Latin word for two, suggesting a mind pulled in two directions, and worry, which once had a far darker meaning in early English. The episode also looks at terms of cause and effect, including karma, comeuppance and just deserts.

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