Your comments and questions:

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Q:  Kel! What is the difference between having "Talks" with a person or group! Having "Discussions" with a person or group! Having "Dialogue" with a person or group! The later seems to have become a favourite of Albo and the Labor Party in general? Rob.

A: 'Talks' is the broader word that covers all these different ways of thinking about what we are doing when we talk. 'Discussion' was originally the spoken investigation of a topic; 'dialogue' was originally a literary term for the exchange between two or more characters. Over the years the distinctions have been lost, and the meanings have blurred. 

Q:  And what is “tutti frutti” (another American product). Something shared by US children of the last 100 years, and a song? Doug

A: Recorded in America from 1811 meaning a confection of mixed fruits. It comes from an Italian expression meaning 'all the fruits.' 

Q:  The reviewer of Sally Rooney's novel 'Intermezzo' (Spectator 28 Sept. 2024) states Rooney does not use speech marks. What is she talking about? Is she referring to what I was taught were quotation marks or inverted commas? And when did this change take place? It also appears Rooney dislikes verbs. Claire.

A: It can only mean inverted commas. I'll hunt out my copy of the review and have a look.

Q:  Hi Kel, LOVE your work! Here's a couple for you. (1) "At sixes and sevens" (2) "Dressed up to the nines" (3) I know what this actually translates as but many of your viewer won't. Mainly heard from African/Americans: "Land o' Goshen". Cheers, Rob 

A: (1) "sixes and seven" -- we can’t be absolutely sure of where the phrase comes from, but the most probable explanation is that it arose out of an old game of dice called hazard, in which one’s chances of winning were controlled by a set of rather arbitrary and complicated rules. It is thought that the expression was originally to set on cinque and sice (from the French numerals for five and six). These were apparently the riskiest numbers to shoot for (“to set on”) and anyone who tried for them was considered careless or confused. Later, the number words shifted to their modern values as a result of folk etymology among individuals who knew no French and misheard the words.  (2) "dressed up to the nines" -- is a corruption of an earlier expression "dressed up to thine eyes" (meaning dressed up from your shoes to eyebrows"). The "N" was detached from 'thine' and attached to beginning of 'eyes" giving us our modern expression. (3) "Land o' Goshen" is a mild exclamation of surprise, alarm, dismay, annoyance, or exasperation. In the Bible, Goshen was the region in Egypt inhabited by the Israelites until the Exodus. Primarily heard in US. Land o' Goshen, look at the time! How is it nearly midnight already? 

Q:  Where does the phrase "Woe betide" come from and what is its meaning? Vicki

A: It's recorded from 1390.  "Woe betide you" originally meant: "may evil or misfortune happen to you"; in later use this was weakened to mean, "you will get into trouble if....". The word 'woe' originally meant 'grief' and 'betide' originally meant to happen or to befall.

Q:  Hi Kel, where do we get the expression ’gung-ho’ from? I seem to say this a lot. Cheers, Adam

A: 'Gung-ho' is a slogan adopted in the Second World War by the United States Marines under General Evan Carlson; hence it means: enthusiastic, eager, zealous. It comes from an older Chinese expression kung ho which means 'work together.' 

Q: Terence writes that with the triumph of Trump the expression 'manifest destiny' is making a comeback. Where, he asks, does it come from?

A: 'Manifest destiny' is first recorded from 1845 (yes, in America). When it was coined, it first meant: "The doctrine or belief that the expansion of the United States throughout the American continents was both justified and inevitable." For some years Canada was thought to be struggling against America's 'manifest destiny.' Post WWII it took on a broader meaning of America's responsibility to lead the free world. 

Q:  What is the origin of swotting? (Meaning studying hard.) Always enjoy your spot with Peta. Regards, John

A: It's a dialectical variation on 'sweat" -- recorded from 1850.   The term originated at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, in the use on one occasion of the expression ‘It makes one swot’ (= sweat) by the Scottish professor of mathematics, William Wallace. 

Q:  A word I heard on Sky is "pogrom" -- I have never heard it's exact meaning explained. Peter 

A: 'Pogrom' means an organized massacre aimed at the destruction or annihilation of a body or class of people, esp. one conducted against Jewish people. 'Pogrom' means 'destruction' and comes from Yiddish. (Recorded from 1889)

Q:  Hi Kel, reading a novel I came across the burglar using a "jimmy" to open a door. In all my years I have only known it as a 'jemmy" What is going on? Cheers, John

A: The word is recorded from 1811. It means a short crowbar used by thieves (generally made in sections that screw together, so it can be easily concealed). 'Jemmy' is an old nickname for anyone called "James" -- so housebreakers were giving their tools of trade personal names.

Q:  Hi Kel, there are ads everywhere today for " Black Friday " sales. I must confess to being totally ignorant as to what this is. Please enlighten me. John

A: 'Black Friday' is American and is the name given to the day after Thanksgiving, which traditionally marks the start of the Christmas shopping season. The name was coined in 1960 by the police chief in Philadelphia because of the massive traffic congestion on that day. 

Q:  What are the contextual origins of the words: slip, gully, point & silly, as terms used to describe fielding positions in cricket, please? Thanks, Louise 

A: "gully" is the offside position slightly behind the line of the batsman's wicket. The name comes from the more general meaning of "gully" suggesting a narrow channel between point and the slips.

"slip" the person fielding at slip between the wicket keeper and gully is quired to catch "slips off the bat''--balls which glance off the bat.

"silly" a position close to the batsman, thought of as a 'silly' (dangerous) place to stand. 

"point" a fairly close-in offside position, originally described as being close to the 'point of the bat.'

Q:  Hi Kel, Peta Credlin used an interesting word in her program last night- boondoggle. Could you please help out with meaning and origin. Thanks very much, Sue 

A: 'Boondoggle' these days means 'a trivial or unnecessary undertaking' (particularly one which wastes money). It seems to have appeared in print (around 1929) as the name for a woven leather lanyard worn by boy scouts. In 1935 The New York Times claimed that the word 'boondoggle' had been coined out of the blue by an Eagle Scout named Robert H. Link. However, there is a story that it actually began on ranches in the Old West. The story says that during periods of inactivity cowboys would sit around the ranch with a knife and a scrap of leather making decorative but useless things -- to which they gave the name of 'boondoggles' (coined as a nonsense name for a nonsense activity). 

Q:  I wish to submit two words for consideration in your weekly chat with Peta Credlin. The first word is Blonk I used this a conversation re selling shares I can’t sell them all "blonk" as it will cost too much in capital gains. The second word is "Twerp" which was an expression in my younger days of someone who was being a pest Thank you Ian 

A: (1) None of the recorded meanings of different "blonk" words explain your usage. Perhaps it comes from the French blanc (white) -- if I sell all these shares and end up with a white sheet I have 'blonked' my shares. Is that possible? (2) 'Twerp' (an irritating person) is recorded from 1925, but almost certainly existed in Oxford earlier in the 20th century -- where it was coined from a student T. W. Earp who was famously irritating.

Q: Rose asks: 'What is the origin of the Scottish word “Aye” meaning yes?'

A: The experts say, 'origin unknown.'  One suggestion is that it might have grown out of using the personal pronoun "I" to indicate assent; or from the compression of a phrase such as 'ah, yea.' On the other hand, it might have been a vowel shift in the old word of agreement 'yea'.  In older usage yea was considered the proper affirmative reply when the question was framed in the positive, whereas yes was usually considered to be the proper affirmative reply to a question framed in the negative; a similar distinction was made between nay and no. This distinction became obsolete soon after 1600, and since then yes has been the ordinary affirmative reply to any question positive or negative, and yea has become archaic. 'Aye' survives in Scotland and in parliament.

Q:  Kel, how about putting the word “natter” on TV with Peta. I heard it used again yesterday. Brian  

A: It comes from 1804. But earlier (in 1747) there was the verb ''to gnatter' -- from the verb 'gnash' as in 'gnash your teeth.'. Originally it meant 'to nibble' but it seems to have later meant 'to move one's teeth with frequent talking.

Q:  The colour of Donald Trump's hat a tie is “red” and is representative of the conservative political side of American politics. Conversely “blue” represents the democratic politicians.
In Australia the colours representing our political parties are exactly opposite…. So, my question is… why is the political colour representation different in each country and is there some significance? Ian

A:  Yes, in Britain the same is true -- blue for the conservatives and red for the socialists. The Americans have reversed these. As recently as 1976 the Republicans were blue and the Dems were red. There is a claim that this changed as recently as 2000 (in the Bush versus Gore election) when the newspaper USA Today published an election map reversing those colours. According to the graphic artist who designed the map it was because "Republican" starts with "R" and so does "red."  

Q: Jan writes: 'Why did my grandmother called a post box a "pillar box"?'

A:  A 'pillar box' is defined by the Oxford as: A free-standing public postbox shaped like a pillar, typically (in Britain) about four feet in height, made of cast iron, painted red, and with a slightly rounded cap. The invention and design of the pillar box are usually attributed to the English novelist Anthony Trollope (1815–82); the first box was installed in 1852 at St Helier, Jersey, where Trollope worked as a post office inspector.

Q: Christine writes: "What is the origin of the expression -- ‘You can’t teach your grandmother to suck eggs’? (On PETA’s programme please.)'

A:   Many similar expressions have been invented down the years, such as Don’t teach your grandmother how to milk ducks, and don’t teach your grandmother to steal sheep. These have the same kind of absurd image as the version you quote, which has survived them all. It was first recorded in 1707 in a translation by John Stevens of the collected comedies of a Spanish playwright.  But the idea is very much older. There was a classical proverb A swine to teach Minerva, which was translated by Nichola Udall in 1542 as to teach our dame to spin, something any married woman of the period would know very well how to do. And there are other examples of sayings designed to check the tendency of young people to give unwanted advice to their elders and betters. 

Q:  On 'Credlin' Peta used the word " Discombobulate" (my mother also used it) where did that come from? Krum

A: It was coined in America in 1825, based on words such as 'discompose' and 'discomfort' as a jocular piece of pretend Latin.  It was a jokey way to mean 'To disturb, upset, disconcert, confuse.' 

Q: Beverly writes: 'What is the origin of “Looking a gift horse in the mouth? PS: Love the section with Peta Credlin.'

A:  Horses’ teeth change as they age, making it possible to determine their age from their teeth, which also gave rise to the saying “long in the tooth”.  This proverb advises us to accept gifts graciously without scrutinizing their value, as doing so implies ingratitude. It is of ancient and obscure origin is thought to come from St. Jerome’s Latin text of the Bible from around AD 400. In English, it appeared in 1546.

Q: Len asks 'Where does dilly-dally' come from?

A: 'Dilly-dally' is recorded from 1740. It's an extension of the earlier word 'dally' -- which is recorded from 1300 and came into English from a French source word dalier to converse, chat, pass one's time in light social converse. The doubled version 'dilly-dally' means even more trifling vacillation or indecision.' 

Q:  Kel, my suggestion for WOTY is -- (given the US election) 'weave.’ Trump used this to describe his ability to tell a tangentially relevant story and then resume the main point on which was speaking. He criticised the media for saying he was going off topic and becoming forgetful because the media had a short attention span and an appetite for sound bites. Cheers, Adam

A: I like it. A new use for a (very) old word. 'Weave' comes from Old English (from more than a thousand years ago) meaning 'interlacing yarns' -- which works for Trump given the modern meaning of 'yarns.'

Q: Hi Kel, I enjoy your daily Ozwords tremendously. On the point of WOTY, should SHRINKFLATION not be included? Best regards Ian 

A:  Actually 'shrinkflation' has been around since 2008 --  so probably too old to be this year's WOTY. But perhaps it should be -- because so much of it is now happening! 

Q:  I don't think this has come up on Words Matter on Credlin but would love to see it discussed there. Gaol and Jail. What is the origin of both words, both meaning and spelling? I've noticed the media no longer uses the English spelling 'Gaol' and sticks with the American (mis)spelling 'Jail'. John

A: The 'gaol' spelling is recorded from around 1300s while the 'jail' spelling is recorded from 1425. Back when spelling was not settled in English both were used (up until the 1700s). So, both have a distinguished heritage -- and clearly both can be defended. In America, Noah Webster settled on 'jail' in his highly influential dictionary. My memory is that Australian newspapers switched to the 'jail' spelling in the 1960s -- so this is not new. The reason for the switch was that the reversal of two letters in 'gaol' means you score an own goal.

Q: Re: "Loser's consent" -- A timely discussion! I think this abandonment of Loser's Consent has arisen through changes in schooling and child rearing. Children in the 1950s and possibly also 1960s were taught to lose gracefully. After about three years old tantrums were not acceptable. Now they are all given prizes for any level of performance and losing is played down. I wonder if they are still allowed to play musical chairs. One person got left out when the music stopped as there was one too few chairs - surely this would lead to all sorts of therapy today? One exception I noticed, children in spelling bees on TV seem to have been schooled in losing quietly and congratulating the winner. But these are a very small minority. Heather

A: The silly, trendy idea that everyone has to win, and no one loses may well be the source of this destructive idea.

Q:  How about our Prime Minister and the proponents of The Voice? John

A: Yes, they haven't accepted the decision of 61% of the population! 

Q:  Hi Kel, could you please explain what a spoonerism is? Thanks. John

A: The Oxford says, "an accidental transposition of the initial sounds, or other parts, of two or more words." It was known in Oxford by 1885 and more widely from about 1900. The word comes from the name of Rev. William Archibald Spooner (1844–1930), He was a long-serving Oxford don.  He was most notable for his absent-mindedness, and for supposedly mixing up the syllables in a spoken phrase, with unintentionally comic effect. He is supposed to have once complained to a student: "you have hissed all my mystery lectures." (You can work out what he meant!)

Q:  Hi Kel, I wanted to ask about the meaning of pay/payday. This can help resolve a family dispute as my grandmother calls pension day 'payday' to the consternation of my mother who believes that payday refers to payment for work. Hopefully your expertise can help resolve this issue. Thanks, and best wishes, Dylan 

A: Your grandmother is right -- it means any day on which any sort of payment is received.

Q:  Dear Kel, am wondering if you could tell me something about the term "hissy fit". I have used it on many occasions not knowing where it got into my vocabulary. Parents probably. Thanks. Sarah

A: 'hissy fit' is American slang, first recorded in 1967. As you know it means "a fit of temper, an angry outburst, a tantrum." From the onomatopoeic word "hiss" (like an angry cat) and a reference to the medical term "fit". 

Q:  Hi Kel, Matt Gaetz has been nominated to be AG in the new Trump administration and has been described as a ‘firebrand.’ What exactly is the definition of firebrand and what is the origin of this compound word? Cheers, Adam 

A: Originally (13th century) is meant a piece of burning wood used to ignite a fire. We now use it figuratively to mean "a person who, or (occasionally) a thing which, kindles strife, inflames passions, etc., esp. in a political context; an agitator." (Oxford)

Q:  Kel, where does, "putting on the dog", come from? Best regards, Chris

A:  to put on the dog is first recorded only in 1871, in a book by L H Bagg called Four Years at Yale: “Dog, style, splurge. To put on dog, is to make a flashy display, to cut a swell”, and is certainly a US expression. It has been suggested that it developed out of the rise in popularity of ladies’ lap dogs in the period after the American Civil War. Such animals were presumably pampered and beribboned, and this might have suggested that to put on the dog was to show off.  

Q:  The word Noon? Denise

A: Today we use 'noon' to mean 'twelve o'clock in the day; midday' -- but it didn't always mean that. The earliest meaning of the word, back int the days of Old English, was 'the ninth hour of the day, reckoned from sunrise according to the Roman method, or about three o'clock in the afternoon.' This came from a direct translation of the Latin nona hora ('ninth hour') which was the hour when Christ died on the cross. In the ancient church calendar this was the time when the office of 'none' was celebrated (one of the canonical hours of prayer). So, how did 'noon' shift back to being three hours earlier? The first edition of the Oxford (1907) suggested that the change in the time denoted by noon, from about 3 o'clock to about 12 o'clock, probably resulted from anticipation of the ecclesiastical office or of a meal hour. In other words, the meal eaten before none came to be called none ('noon' in modern English) and so shifted the meaning of the word from 3 o'clock back to 12 o'clock. 

Q:  What is the origin of the word ‘inkling’?  Bruce

A: The word appears in English in the 14th century. These days we use it to mean "having a vague idea about something" (Collins Dictionary) or "a slight knowledge or vague notion" (Merriam-Webster). But originally it meant "mentioning in an undertone; a faint or slight mention, report, or rumour." There was also (back in the 14th century) the verb "to Inkle" which meant "to utter or communicate in an undertone or whisper, to hint." So, where does it come from? The Oxford (usually so brilliant of the origin of words) fails us here. Under the heading of 'inkling' it says, 'see verb to inkle' and under the heading 'inkle' is says 'see noun inkling.' Clearly that one slipped past the editors! Added note: there was once a literary club at Oxford who called themselves 'The Inklings.' They were using the word with a double meaning -- they were looking for telling hints about things, and they wrote books (burst into ink). Members included C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien.

Q:  Hi Kel, a phrase that I rarely hear used any more, but growing up, my parents in particular used it a lot. To urge me or my siblings to hurry along, they would say " chop-chop ". Is it one that you're familiar with, and where did it come from? Thanks. John

A: The expression 'chop-chop' is recorded from 1834 and comes from a type of pidgin spoken in the east those days, which in turn was an anglicised corruption of the Chinese expression  k'wâi-k'wâi "hurry, hurry."

Q:  Where did "Home and hosed" originate and what does it mean? Brian

A: It's an Australian coinage from around 1917. It means 'having fully achieved one's objective; safe, out of danger.' If comes from horse racing, when a racehorse has completed a race and is back in its stall after being hosed down.

Q:  Thanks for your columns in The Spectator. Have you ever written about the disappearance of the word “affect” in spoken language? Everyone is “impacted” by an event, never “affected”. “Affect” has just disappeared from the lexicon. Seriously. I have a finely tuned ear for language, being a retired journalist, and I have never heard the word “affect” used in recent years as either a verb or a noun. And not just in Australia; it’s disappeared from American and British usage too. Is it because “affect” is seen as too gentle, whereas “impact” has punch? Does this say something about our age? Philip

A:  The sound you hear is the grinding of my teeth when 'impact' is misused. Yes, I should do a column about it. 

Q:  It is my contention that over time the words "manufacture" or "manufacturing" etc, were pronounced man-U-facture or man-U-facturing but now the word increasingly appears to be pronounced as man-ER-facture or man-ER-facturing, particularly amongst politicians, financiers and industrialists. It seems to me it is as if the "in" club are deliberately mispronouncing the word (just to annoy me or be cool insiders!). The first person I noticed mispronouncing the word in this way was former Senator John Button, Minister for Industry, Commerce and later Technology back in the mid-eighties. It seems to have caught on. What is going on here Kel? Robert

A: There is only one correct pronunciation of 'manufacture' and that is -- man-yuh-FACK-chuh (even the Americans pronounce it that way). I wonder if this is a bit of lazy Aussie articulation?

Q:  Love the word burbling! Where did this word originate from? Rae

A:  'Burble' goes back as far as the 14th century, meaning 'a murmurous flow of words.' It's related to 'bubble' -- with the notion that words just bubble out.

Q:  Hi Kel, here's a new phrase I'd never heard or read before, and which particularly appropriate in this election period - for the US and us: It seems to me we see the world through the Overton Window. For some, that window is like a bay window, and for others it’s like a porthole on a ship. For some that window may be on all four sides of a room, and for others, it may just be on one or two. What is the Overton Window? Helen

A: I have written about his in the past. The name comes from Joseph P. Overton (1960–2003), the former vice president of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in the United States, who developed the concept that there is a 'window' or spectrum of ideas on public policy and social issues considered acceptable or viable by the general public at a given time.  Anything outside that 'widow' is ignored or rejected by the wider public. 

Q:  Rosalie Ham used the word “mansplaining” this morning. Don’t know if I should feel insulted or what, but any idea where this came from? Doug

A: Yes, you should feel insulted. It is part of a concerted campaign to make men feel guilty just for being men! (I have small grandsons, and I worry about the world they are growing up in.) The Oxford records 'mansplaining' from 2008, and says the word means a man explaining something "needlessly, overbearingly, or condescendingly, esp. (typically when addressing a woman) in a manner thought to reveal a patronizing or chauvinistic attitude." This belongs in the same category as 'toxic masculinity' -- namely as an attempt to dismiss and belittle 50% of the population of the world. Feminism is one of those movements that achieved their stated aims some years ago. But instead of gratefully disbanding, they just changed their goal -- from achieving equality for women to the destruction of all men. Feminism is now a force for evil in our world. To which I would add that so-called 'mansplaining' is necessary when we are talking to someone who is stupid!

Q:  Hi Kel, would our modern word "crazy" have any origin with "Acrasia"? Mark

A: No, 'crazy' seems to go back to a medieval Scandinavian word meaning 'to fragment, to break, to shatter.' When that happens to someone's brain they are 'crazy.'

Q:  Is acrasia related to the word crass?  Rae

A: No, crass comes from a Latin source word meaning 'solid, thick, dense.'

Q:  You might’ve written/spoken about this already, but where does ‘down in the dumps’ originate? Love you on Credlin, cheers! Annie

A:  The first record we have of ‘down in the dumps’ is in Francis Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1785) where he writes -- "Dumps. Down in the dumps; low-spirited, melancholy: jocularly said to be derived from Dumpos, a king of Egypt, who died of melancholy." Some believe it may have come from the old English phrase "dumpe," which meant to be heavy or slow-moving, while others believe it may have been derived from an Old Norse phrase "dympan," which means to make someone sad or melancholy. The idiom has been in use since at least the 17th century, with early uses appearing in English literature and poetry. Over time, its usage has remained relatively consistent, although it may be used more frequently in contemporary language to describe feelings of sadness or depression. 

Q:  I have a "word" for Words Matter. I hear reporters and younger people always saying things are "so fun". It drives me crazy. I'm sure the correct grammar is "so much fun". Is this correct or am I just an easily irritated oldie. Cheers Kay 

A: It is an abbreviation of 'so much fun.' The Urban Dictionary says it comes from around 2008 -- and adds that if you use this you will sound about 10 years old. 

Q:  Hi Kel, can you please tell me where the term "rough housing' came from? (in relation to playing) Jane

A: It's an American colloquialism from the 1880s that originally labelled a bar or pub where fights broke out.

Q:  Hi Kel, on Sky News this morning, a presenter used the phrase " blowing my own trumpet " in regard to predicting a landslide to Trump in the US election. Where did this term originate from? Thanks, John

A: It seems to be a very old English proverb. From around1450 in a book of proverbs we find: "Pride cometh before and shame cometh after blowing a horn." In the ancient world the arrival of king was heralded by the blowing of trumpets (or horns) -- so when you boast about yourself it means you are heralding your own achievements with a regal trumpet blast.

Q:  The Commonwealth Bank sent a client an email today asking for "additional information for the application before it can be decisioned". Decisioned? What about "before a decision can be made"? "Before we can make a decision"? Is it "can be made" or "may be made"? I suppose a decision "can" be made without the additional information, although it might not be the best decision. Kel! I go off on tangents and down rabbit holes because I really don't know the answers! Keep up the good work, Kel! Regards, Jenny 

A: The noun 'decision' is recorded from the 15th century. The verb 'to decision' is recorded only from 1877 -- and is labelled by the Oxford as 'non-standard. 

Q:  Hi Kel, I follow you on Credlin every week and enjoy the few minutes that you are on her program. I wanted to ask you about “Bodgie’ and “Widgee’. I can remember the expression growing up and I think it had something to do with a bike rider and his girlfriend. I’d love to get your take on it and where it originated from. Regards, Denise

A: 'Bodgie' is an Australian coinage (from 1949). It comes from the older word 'botch' meaning to do something badly. 'Widgie' is also an Australian invention -- a blend of 'bodgie' and 'woman.'

Q:  Hi Kel, where did the phrase " add insult to injury " originate from, and under what circumstances? Thanks, John

A: The phrase 'add insult to injury' dates back to Roman times (although they said it in Latin!) and it seems to come from one of Aesop's fables "The Bad Man and the Fly". It means to make a bad situation worse, by further hurting the feelings of someone who has already been hurt.

Q:  Why do Americans call nappies diapers? Catherine.

A: They have preserved the older word for a napkin -- which came into English from Middle French around 1350. It was because they were separated from England (by the American war of Independence) that they preserved the older language. 

Q:  Thank you for your "Ozword" emails. May I make a suggestion. Please discuss the term "word salad" -- I have heard the words "word salad" when describing the answers given by a US presential candidate. Media reports talk about the candidate's responses to questions as well as general talk as a "word salad". Thanks, Anthony

A:  I thought I had talked about 'word salad'? Perhaps not. Perhaps only on TV. The expression comes from a German psychiatrist at the beginning of the 20the century -- coined as a name for the meaningless outpouring words from mental patients.  

Q:  Hi Kel, a word related to the US election. I hear of the Democrats fortifying the election. Could you please let me know what fortifying means in this context and whether it is a new use of the word. Many thanks, Susan 

A: 'Fortify' comes from a Latin source word meaning 'to strengthen.' It was used in 2020 by Democrats boasting they had 'fortified' the election results -- I suppose because it sounds better than 'manipulated' the result!

Q:  Hi Kel, where did the word vamoose come from? Is this what Albo has been telling the media all last week? Also, erstwhile. Is this the same as former? If so, why complex language to describe something so simple in meaning? Cheers, Steve 

A: 'Vamoose' is a slang word from the American Old West from the Spanish word vamos 'let's go.' Both 'erstwhile' and 'former' mean 'from an earlier time.' Almost exact similes. 

Q:  'Lurk' and is it always a 'good lurk' or does anyone ever have a bad lurk? I use the word 'lurking' a lot as in 'I was lurking in the liquor store when......' Lillian

A: The verb 'to lurk' is very old (14th century) and means 'to hide oneself -- often for deceptive or fraudulent reasons. That's your second use of the word. Your first (the noun 'a good lurk') is a distinctively Australian coinage from the mid 1800s. It means 'A scheme, ‘dodge’, plan of action, ruse (not necessarily implying fraud).' It's a softening of the old meaning of 'a lurk' as a fraud.  

Q:  Hi Kel, really enjoy your segment on Credlin! With the USA election looming, I was wondering what was the origin of the word "President"? While on a political theme, what is the origin of "Senate"? Is the Roman Senate the first use of the term? If so, what was the translation or derivation of the word? And, lastly, while pondering the Senate, why are Senate committees called "Estimates" in the Australian Federal Parliament? Thanks, and best regards, Mike. 

A: 'President' comes from the verb 'to preside' (that is to lead, or rule over, a meeting). In turn, 'preside' comes from the Latin prefix 'pre-' meaning 'before' and 'sedere' meaning 'to sit.' A president presides over a meeting by being seated before (in front of) the meeting. In the ancient world teaching or leading positions always involved being seated. That's why we speak about the 'throne' (the seat) as the symbol of monarchy, and why professors have a 'chair' at universities. So, the person seated at the head of a meeting was in the position of authority over that meeting. 'Senate' also comes from Latin and is related to our word 'senior' -- it was originally a council of old men.  'Estimates' of government expenditure are referred to Senate committees as part of the annual budget cycle. This opportunity to examine the operations of government plays a key role in the parliamentary scrutiny of the executive. 'Estimate' means 'approximate value'. It comes from a classical Latin source word related to our word 'esteem.'

Q:  Hi Kel, I love watching your segment on Peta Credlin's show, so I have some old sayings that you might be able to help with: (1) chalk and cheese, (2) old maid's tale, (3) gasbagging. Carolyn

A: Added to the list.

Q:   Dear Kel, I would like to know the origins of the words "bamboozled" and "flummoxed". I presume the meaning is similar. I really enjoy your work, Regards Christine 

A: 'Bamboozled' (originally meaning 'deceived by trickery, hoaxed') is recorded from 1703. The Oxford says 'origin unknown' -- but the best guess anyone has come up with is that this comes from a Romany (Gypsy) source word. 'Flummoxed", meaning 'brought into a state of confusion' is recorded from 1837 and seems to come from a regional English dialect word (from Herefordshire).

Q:  I made contact with a Minister's Office requesting an appointment during COVID relating to a known solution to medically/scientifically proven solution to COVID. I was immediately asked had I made the required "donation" to the party. That person was made totally aware that I would pay NO gratuity under any circumstances and that may be acceptable in other counties and cultures but not here. I knew the Minister personally and they were told in no uncertain terms about my thoughts on his office standards. If any politician requested a grant from a bank to deliver an outcome that would be judged differently? The word "gratuity" has now emerged as a something that needs exposure. Interested in your usual erudite view on this? Andrew

A: 'Gratuity' has meant 'A gift or present (usually of money), often in return for favours or services. Also in negative connotations: a bribe' (Oxford) from 1540 (when it's recorded in the state papers of Henry VIII). I am horrified by your experience and can't believe any member of parliament fails to understand that their role is to serve their constituents.

Q:  I've been underwhelmed by various politicians. I've been overwhelmed by brilliant lexicographer segments on Sky. But I love a happy medium. Can I just be whelmed? Rod

A:  Yes, you can be "whelmed" -- it has the same meaning as "overwhelmed" -- namely "flooded." Originally people were just "whelmed" and then they felt they needed to make the expression stronger, and it became "overwhelmed." (From the 14th and 15th centuries respectively.) "Underwhelmed "is a jokey modern expression (from the 1950s). 

Q:  Sometime soon could you do Word of the Day focusing on "won't". This word simply does not make any sense at all the me. "Won't you take a seat here". Question or request? "Would you not take a seat here" makes no sense in a number of contexts. David

A: The Oxford says that "won't" functions as what it calls a "full verb" -- and has done for a thousand years (it's a very old part of the English language). It is (says the Oxford) "The present tense will and past tense would with temporal function." It's related to such now archaic words as 'wilt.' (As in "wilt thou...") Don't look for logic in language!