Butter No Parsnips

Get ready for a side-splitting episode, cause this week Emily and Kyle are exploring the laughter-filled etymology of abderian.

Visit the Greek polis of Abdera, and hear how it may or may not have been founded by Hercules. Learn what made the Joker call Gotham a city of fools. And listen to some utterly absurd jokes that totally brought the house down in Ancient Greece.

Lastly, dip your toe into some philosophy to discover just what Democritus and Immanuel Kant had to laugh about. Spoiler alert: the real joke is the eventual downfall of humanity!

Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.

Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast

Follow us on TikTok @ButterNoParsnips

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⁠www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips⁠

Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers

Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore

Kyle and Emily examine the rich tapestry of language, fashion, and politics that is the word foulard, and unravel the threads connecting stamped silk to nifty neckerchiefs to religious raiments.

They delve into the oldest methods of dyeing silk handkerchiefs--a process not unlike how you dyed your t-shirt at summer camp. Kyle and Emily then discuss how language, too, is a tie-dyed blend of metaphor, metonymy, and synecdoche, creating an intricate pattern of words and symbols.

And this humble scarf leads our hosts in yet another direction: a plight of French Muslim schoolgirls. They talk about the French “laïcité” principle of secularism, and how it affects Islamic garments like the chador or the hijab.

Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.

Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast

Follow us on TikTok @ButterNoParsnips

Support us!

⁠www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips⁠

Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers

Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore

This week, the Butter No Parsnips gang reflects on a year of words. With poetry, leisurely strolls down memory lane, and special cameos by voices from their past, Emily, Kyle, and Seth celebrate what one year of an etymology podcast can do to a trio of friends.

Don’t get it confused for any standard year-end retrospective though, those poems aren’t written by old, white Europeans this time, they’re written by former guests, Patreon patrons, and the hosts themselves, all with one unique catch: Try to use as many of the words that have been covered on the show as possible. You won’t regret hearing the end results.

Thank you to everyone for joining us every week for the past year as we’ve explored the fascinating origins and meanings of words, and uncovered the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time. We look forward to the next!

Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast

Follow us on TikTok @ButterNoParsnips

Support us!

⁠www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips⁠

Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers

Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore

Today, in preparation for our anniversary, we submit for your consideration a sneak peek into the seedy underbelly of Butter No Parsnips, the BNP after dark Patreon series Butter’d Parsnips.

In this episode, Kyle and Emily are tasked with exploring the qualities of some of the worst words Seth could conjure up in an effort to tap into what it is about some words that just make us cringe.

We hope that this brief look into what goes on behind the paywall is enough to inspire you to support us on Patreon, where alongside monthly releases of Butter’d Parsnips, $5 can also gain you access to early episodes, behind-the-scenes goings on, updates on the show in general, Afterthoughts, bloopers, and more!

Head to www.patreon.com/butternoparsnips to see what all the fuss is about!

This week, Emily and Kyle look at a real doozy of a word, zemblanity, and its equally delightful companion word, serendipity.

They find out how these two words are linked to the island nation of Sri Lanka, and to a cozy Persian fairy tale about a trio of lucky princes. And the winding tale of these words leads them to a famous Walpole, and his involvements in politics, gothic architecture, and letter-writing.

They explore zemblanity’s inevitable origin in a book called Armadillo and an island off the coast of Russia. They also hone in on exactly how serendipity and zemblanity are opposites. Last, but certainly not least, they touch on the idea of serendipitous discovery and invention, and reveal the greatest of all dinosaurs.

Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.

Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast

Support us!

⁠www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips⁠

Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers

Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore

Kyle and Emily dive into the world of public performance and many other professions to explore mogiphonia, as well as its sister words mogigraphia and mogilalia.

They begin by looking at a malady which has afflicted every singer, musician, and public speaker for centuries. And they might get a glimpse of where this stereotype of the temperamental performer comes from. Singing and public speaking ain’t easy! And we’re not just talking about a run-of-the-mill sore throat or stage fright, here!

It’s not just the voice that’s suffering, either. This episode reveals many struggles of occupational health. Or, at least, many occupations that struggle with a hand cramp. Lastly, our hosts learn that there’s been a medical term for a stutter for quite some time! And Kyle reveals that the stuttering of Finnegan’s Wake had more significance than Emily thought.

Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.

Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast

Support us!

⁠www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips⁠

Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers

Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore

We hope you brought your BEC, cause this week Emily and Kyle are talking about their deeply-ingrained Long Island roots. …Oh, and they’re also talking about the meaning of shibboleth!

They chat about this word’s origins in the Hebrew Bible–which isn’t just the Torah, by the way! Emily reads verses about a high-risk test in the Book of Judges, and Kyle learns the most important difference between Gilead and Ephraim.

But it turns out this isn’t the only life-saving password from history. A pirate from Friesland used a Frisian phrase to find foes, certain men of the United States navy used a subtle saying to find friends, and your local university uses an SSO to get you the research you need. Looks like whenever and wherever you are, it pays to know the right shibboleth!

Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.

Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast

Support us!

⁠www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips⁠

Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers

Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore

This week Kyle and Emily pack up some snacks, get some showtunes going, and take a road trip through the meaning and history of the caravanserai.

They find out that it’s actually a compound word. They’ve heard of a caravan, but… a serai? And this word answers valuable questions, like: What are the best places to stay along the Silk Road? What’s the most luxurious thing an inn can have? (Hint: you GOTTA check out the hammam, a.k.a. Turkish bath.). And what makes a really good travel agency, according to explorer Ibn Battuta?

And those aren’t the only useful tidbits to be learned this week. Turns out the messengers of the Achaemenid Empire have a surprising connection to your modern post office, which showcases why we should all support the USPS. Emily is surprisingly good at pronouncing the name of that guy from The Grand Budapest Hotel. And Kyle has a surprisingly detailed knowledge of Mario Kart tracks!

Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.

Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast

Support us!

⁠www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips⁠

Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers

Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore

Come along with Emily and Kyle as they discuss the incunable (not an adjective!) and the beginning of books as we know them.

This Latin word takes us through the history of printing, in Europe and beyond. We learn about all the ways people have put words on the page--from the manuscript, to block printing, to the infancy of moveable type and the Gutenberg Press.

Last but certainly not least, we take a peek at the back of the book to see something called a colophon, and learn that logos and slogans have had a place in books since the beginning. But we also get a valuable warning: the blurb at the back of your library book might be casting a dangerous curse!

Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.

Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast

Support us!

⁠www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips⁠

Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers

Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore

Kyle and Emily glimpse into their crystal ball and reveal a word that melds birdwatching and divination into one: alectryomancy.

They look at this word’s origins in ancient Greek, as well as its importance in ancient Rome. Turns out the magic of the rooster is not to be understated! (Though it is stated beautifully by our old friend Pliny the Elder.)

They’ll also take you through some thrilling (if violent) tales from Roman history--including one about a fortune teller, some chickens, and 288,000 lost quincunxes. And they squeeze in a few extra tidbits to peck at, like the divining rituals of hermeticism and the etymology of “praying mantis”!

Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.

Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast

Support us!

⁠www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips⁠

Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers

Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore