Butter No Parsnips

By Butter No Parsnips

Every week on Butter No Parsnips, your hosts Emily Moyers and Kyle Imperatore take you on an adventure through the weird, wacky, wonderful, and sometimes wicked history of one wayside word. Strange ch... more

· Comedy

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How many episodes does Butter No Parsnips have?

The podcast currently has 175 episodes available.

Butter No Parsnips episodes:

July 21, 2025 152. Lagniappe
Emily’s feeling generous this week, so she’s gifted Kyle a word with a delightful meaning and fascinating origin, lagniappe.
Our hosts begin their journey in the mountains of South America. Kyle spots some English words which originate in the Quechua languages of that region, and Emily traces a path from Quechua through Spanish, then through French and Louisiana Creole.
They discuss the history of colonial Louisiana, and the rich blend of cultures and languages it developed. The literary styling of Mark Twain provides insight into lagniappe’s usage in 19th century New Orleans, but our hosts discuss how the tradition has stuck in NOLA, South America, and beyond.
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 YouTube @ButterNoParsnips
Follow us on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or by visiting ⁠www.bnppod.com⁠
Produced by⁠ ⁠Seth Gliksman⁠⁠, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
...more
33min
July 14, 2025 151. Parergon
Kyle and Emily get to work at their favorite side hustle, separating “work” from “bywork” and unpacking the meaning and origin of the word parergon.
This word might sound like a mouthful, but our hosts begin by comparing it side by side with more familiar words like parallel, parasite, ergonomic, and paragon. Kyle then takes Emily through parergon’s various meanings. Like that beloved hobby you don’t want to become your job… or the extra work of art that emerges side by side with your main project.
But the uses of parergon extend even further than that! They discuss the word’s meaning in the world of painting, describing the backgrounds in portraits or landscape art. And they even dip their toes into a bit of philosophy, taking on the heady topic of semiotics.
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 YouTube @ButterNoParsnips
Follow us on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support us
⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or by visiting ⁠www.bnppod.com⁠
Produced by⁠ ⁠Seth Gliksman⁠⁠, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
...more
38min
July 07, 2025 150. Congé
This week, Emily and Kyle get their vacation time approved and finally take that holiday to France, exploring the meaning and origin of the word congé along the way.
Our hosts trace this word from modern day France all the way back to Ancient Rome, talking about sick leave, travel, and even squeezing in the history of the word commute! They also take a few linguistic detours, in which Emily notes some detailed architecture and Kyle recalls a delicious rice dish.
Kyle and Emily discuss how both congé and congee can encompass a variety of meanings. It can describe the passport Thomas Jefferson is waiting for; the permission needed to pick a new Archbishop of Canterbury; the respectful bow made by a departing gentleman; or the rather less respectful goodbye received by a jilted lover.
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 YouTube @ButterNoParsnips
Follow us on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support us
⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or by visiting ⁠www.bnppod.com⁠
Produced by⁠ ⁠Seth Gliksman⁠⁠, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
...more
40min
June 30, 2025 149. Vignette
Kyle and Emily look at the meaning and origin of vignette, a word which gives them snapshots of life in everything from illuminated manuscripts to early photography, and from book illustrations to theatrical tableaus.
This word starts as nothing more than a small and humble vine. However, it wound its way into the world of illustrated manuscripts, early printing, and wood engraving. Our hosts discuss how this vine grew into a delicately painted border, and later joined the world of photography and instagram filters as well.
A picture is worth a thousand words, but it turns out it’s also worth adding a few words. Kyle discusses the little “slice of life” tableaus used to break up otherwise dull books. And Emily discovered how those evolved into little scenes in literature and theatre.
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 YouTube @ButterNoParsnips
Follow us on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support us
⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or by visiting ⁠www.bnppod.com⁠
Produced by⁠ ⁠Seth Gliksman⁠⁠, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
...more
39min
June 23, 2025 148. Nesh
Emily and Kyle put on their warmest coats and travel up North, braving cold weather and accent challenges to discuss the meaning and origin of the word nesh.
This cozy little word takes our hosts on a journey through several definitions, encompassing all things soft, gentle, and dainty. They talk about the impressive versatility of old-timey words, Emily reveals the wide reach of Germanic roots, and Kyle desperately wishes to nosh on some knishes.
Eventually, the word nesh settles in its favored home: the Northern UK. Our hosts discuss dialects spoken across England, from Yorkshire to the Midlands to the Cotswolds and beyond. They dig into how and why these dialects have held onto English’s oldest facets. And they get a glimpse of how nesh is used in the modern day.
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 YouTube @ButterNoParsnips
Follow us on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support us
⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or by visiting ⁠www.bnppod.com⁠
Produced by⁠ ⁠Seth Gliksman⁠⁠, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
...more
39min
June 16, 2025 147. Logarithmotechny
Kyle and Emily brave the terrifying, technical world of math, and get to know a wonderful wizard of a man along the way, as they discuss the meaning and origin of logarithmotechny.
Our hosts break down this impressive word into some familiar parts. Then, taking a break from English class, they move on to algebra. Don’t worry; there’s not too many numbers today! Just enough that Kyle can reacquaint Emily with the logarithms she’s sure she once understood.
But our two students spend the longest in history class, discussing the great logarithmic work of one John Napier. Kyle reveals the impact Napier had on everything from decimal fractions to the mechanical calculator to early computer technology. And before the episode is out, Emily learns that Napier’s work was not just mathematical, but magical!
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 YouTube @ButterNoParsnips
Follow us on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support us
⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or by visiting ⁠www.bnppod.com⁠
Produced by⁠ ⁠Seth Gliksman⁠⁠, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
...more
45min
June 09, 2025 146. Runcible
Emily and Kyle look at some whimsical poems and delightful nonsense, as they try--perhaps in vain--to ascertain the meaning and origin of the word runcible.
It’s revealed that this word isn’t exactly a word, though it certainly looks like one. Emily recalls a cozy, if silly, bit of poetry from her childhood. Kyle learns of a must-see opera prequel of “The Owl and the Pussycat”. And Edward Lear uses the word runcible in a variety of ways which honestly lead to more questions than answers.
But it turns out that the runcible spoon poses even greater mysteries. When did this fanciful term come to describe the humble spork? What does an hors d'oeuvres server have to do with an 8th century military defeat? And what is the strangest hybrid utensil out there? All or none of those questions will be answered!
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 YouTube @ButterNoParsnips
Follow us on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support us
⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or by visiting ⁠www.bnppod.com⁠
Produced by⁠ ⁠Seth Gliksman⁠⁠, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
...more
39min
June 02, 2025 145. Wroth
Kyle and Emily wax nostalgic, poetic, and wode over a deceptively familiar word, looking through Middle English and modern fantasy for the history of the word wroth.
This word bears striking similarity to wrath, and at least a dozen other words. Kyle unpacks the etymological reasons why. He might’ve been a little angry at having to parse through so much Proto-Germanic, but Emily delights at the many wacky words he unveils in the process!
Our hosts also delve through literature both old and new, looking for appearances of this angry and evil word, under its many different definitions. They look at quotes as old as the King James Bible and tales of King Arthur, but also as recent as the Lord of the Rings and the Game of Thrones books.
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 YouTube @ButterNoParsnips
Follow us on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support us
⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or by visiting ⁠www.bnppod.com⁠
Produced by⁠ ⁠Seth Gliksman⁠⁠, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
...more
38min
May 26, 2025 144. Exurb
Emily and Kyle get away from the hustle and bustle, and take a linguistic drive to the countryside--discussing suburbs, cemeteries, and the history of the word exurb.
Our hosts begin by finding the origins of the exurbs, both as a word and as an extension of the city. They talk about the urbane ancient Romans, the suburbs of Gomorrah, and the advent of the rural cemetery. Thankfully, the exurban residents that followed were a little more lively.
The episode then turns towards city life. Or, rather, the life of the commuter trying desperately to escape the city. Emily provides insights into the exurbs of both yesteryear and today. The mid-century exurbanite is a character Kyle recognizes well, but today’s exurbia lies further away than he might’ve expected.
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 YouTube @ButterNoParsnips
Follow us on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support us
⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or by visiting ⁠www.bnppod.com⁠
Produced by⁠ ⁠Seth Gliksman⁠⁠, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
...more
35min
May 19, 2025 143. Simplified Spelling w/ Gabe Henry
In this very special guest episode, Kyle, Emily, and Seth are all joined by author Gabe Henry who’s been walking in the particularly large shoes of Teddy Roosevelt lately with the recent release of his book Enough is Enuf: Our Failed Attempts to Make English Easier to Spell .
In Enough is Enuf, Henry explores hundreds of years of spelling reform efforts as led by the likes of Teddy Roosevelt, Mark Twain, George Bernard Shaw, and many, many more. From spelling bees to the SoundSpel, and from Ben Franklin to the artist formerly known as Prince, Henry covers the gamut.
Henry answers all the questions asked by episode 123. Decalogue, and demands us to look at the world thru the lenz of absent silent leters, single leters where there 1ce were 2, and alfabets made completely anu in a conversation we hope will respark the spelling reform debate.
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 YouTube @ButterNoParsnips
Follow us on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support us
⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or by visiting ⁠www.bnppod.com⁠
Produced by⁠ ⁠Seth Gliksman⁠⁠, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
...more
1h

FAQs about Butter No Parsnips:

How many episodes does Butter No Parsnips have?

The podcast currently has 175 episodes available.