Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing Why ‘Useless Etymology’ gives you super powers, with Jess Zafarris
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Oct 2, 2025 In this entertaining discussion, Jess Zafarris, an author and etymology communicator, shares insights from her book, Useless Etymology. She reveals how understanding word origins can grant you superpowers, such as decoding complex terms and entering new fields through vocabulary. Jess surprises listeners with the original meanings of everyday words like 'girl' and 'outrage' and explains how acronyms emerged in the modern age. Dive into the quirky histories behind names like 'fedora' and learn why 'gingerbread' isn’t what you think!
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Fedora Named For A Play
- The fedora hat was named after a fictional character Fedora Romazov popularized by Sarah Bernhardt.
- Theater fame turned a character's name into a mainstream fashion term.
Pantalone Gave Us Pants
- 'Pants' ultimately derive from the Italian comic character Pantalone and his distinctive trousers.
- Stage costuming terms like pantaloons evolved into modern 'pants.'
Sideburns From Burnside
- 'Sideburns' come from General Ambrose E. Burnside's whiskers, originally called 'Burnsides.'
- Public playfulness flipped the order to 'sideburns,' and Ambrose Bierce argued for the original form.
