Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris What exactly is a "petard" anyway? | FOSSIL WORDS
9 snips
Jul 24, 2024 Explore the captivating realm of fossil words and their quirky histories! Discover the origins of intriguing phrases like 'hoist by your own petard' and 'give short shrift.' Learn about the playful evolution of language through terms such as 'kit and caboodle.' Uncover the darker roots of expressions tied to crime and societal attitudes, while humorously examining the morbid implications of phrases related to finality. Join in on the linguistic journey through time, where words reveal their secrets and invite creative contributions!
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
What Is A Fossil Word?
- A fossil word mainly survives inside a fixed phrase or idiom rather than as a standalone word.
- The podcast compares these remnants to linguistic skeuomorphs that echo earlier language stages.
Fossils As Lexical Skeuomorphs
- Fossil words act like lexical skeuomorphs: they preserve traces of older forms in modern language use.
- The hosts note technology terms (like podcast's pod) may one day fossilize similarly.
Origin Of 'Short Shrift'
- Jess explains 'shrift' as the confessional or absolution given before execution, which yielded 'short shrift'.
- She quotes Walter Scott to show historical usage linking short mercy and a 'tight cord.'