This time we're uncovering the origins of espionage-related terms, from bug, alias, and surveillance to eavesdrop and secret, tracing how they entered the English language (and words they are related to). Staying under the radar is a classic spy skill - the word radar began as an acronym for radio detecting and ranging. Discover why James Bond's watch of choice is named Omega, and learn about the earlier names and organisations that eventually became MI5 and the CIA, the British and American intelligence services. Also explored are the English terms that shares linguistic roots with the French jeu de cache-cache and the Spanish el escondite, both names for the childhood game hide and seek.

This episode takes a look at terms and phrases that trace back to biblical roots. To "wash your hands of something/someone" has origins linked to the crucifixion, while a commonly misquoted phrase about money also comes from the Bible. Ancient towns mentioned in biblical texts have given rise to modern English terms (one of which remains controversial), and a queen's name has become a label for an immoral woman. The word missionary refers to spreading the word of God, and its more adult meaning surprisingly stems from the same origin. Listen to learn how the term scapegoat originates from a religious ritual involving real goats.

This episode looks at the origins of names used in common sayings, uncovering the theories behind how these phrases came about and tracing the names to their historical linguistic roots. Gordon Bennett is linked to the son of a newspaper entrepreneur, while Flash Harry may have been inspired by a well-known conductor. The phrase Bob's your uncle could have ties to a popular music hall song from the early 20th century. Jack the Lad refers to a real historical figure whose reckless lifestyle led to an early demise — find out how Jack became a familiar form of the name John. A saintly person might be playfully called Mother Teresa; listen to uncover the meaning behind her real birth name.

This episode is all about size, tracing the origins of words related to 'bigness' such as massive, monumental, enormous and gigantic. Discover how gargantuan and Brobdingnagian have literary beginnings, and how juggernaut and jumbo are thought to stem from Indian and West African rituals. Learn why the word for aubergine differs across regions, with Americans calling it eggplant, and hear about the largest one on record weighing in at nearly 4 kilograms. Also explored are the roots of terms used to describe larger body types, including portly, voluptuous, buxom and chubby.

This time we're tracing the origins of colour names and the terms and phrases linked to them. Learn how conditions like grapheme-colour synesthesia, where people associate letters or numbers with colours, and tetrachromacy, the ability to see a wider range of colours, got their names. Discover how colour terms like turquoise, taupe, maroon, indigo and orange entered the language, why green screen is becoming an anachronistic term, and how Queen Victoria played a role in popularising white wedding dresses, alongside other influences. Also featured are the origins of the expressions 'paint the town red' and 'red herring'.

This episode uncovers supposed origins of well-known superstitions, along with the histories of the words tied to them. One story suggests the tradition of hanging a horseshoe above a door for good luck stems from a run-in with the devil, while the belief that breaking a mirror brings bad luck may go back to Roman ideas about reflections revealing the soul. Learn why the number 13 came to be feared, and why 666 might not be as ominous as is often thought. Also traced are the etymologies of words like talisman, charm, folklore and the phrase old wives' tales.

This time, we're taking a deep-fried dive into the origins of words tied to fish and chips, the beloved British dish dating back to the 19th century. Discover how 'fish' follows the same linguistic pattern as 'foot' and 'ford' with their Latin derived counterparts starting with 'P' - pescare, piede and port. Learn about the history behind abstaining from meat on Fridays, why the word 'batter' shares roots with a power cell, and how a flatfish connects to a town square. Plus, hear the story of the McDonald's Filet-O-Fish (and its rivalry with a tropical fruit), and the sauce named after an ethnic group.

This episode concludes with 'Who Invented Ketchup?', an episode of the Who Smarted podcast. https://whosmarted.com/

This episode reveals the etymology behind art-related terms, tracing words like draw, sketch, mural, canvas and sepia to their origins. Discover how 'canvas' shares an etymology with a drug, how 'pastel' links to pasta, and why an easel is connected to a donkey. We also uncover the name meanings and origins of iconic artist names like Van Gogh, Leonardo Da Vinci and Pablo Picasso, whose full name is surprisingly long.

The episode concludes with an excerpt from the ArtMuse podcast, telling the story of Elizabeth Siddall, a 19th century artist and model.

Find the ArtMuse podcast:
Online: https://www.artmusepodcast.com/
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/artmuse/id1666669080
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Czv1RuVGJQBimVCyCO19a
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@artmuse3717

This episode traces the origins of names from classic novels and theatre plays, uncovering the stories behind characters and their creators. You may not recognise the name Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, but you'll know his pen name, which was crafted from variants of his own. Learn the likely reason Oscar Wilde chose the name Dorian for his character, how the name Macbeth is linked to an alcoholic beverage, and how Ophelia connects to a mosquito. Also explored are the surname origins of characters from Jane Austen stories, including Darcy, Ferrars, Bennet and Price.

This episode traces the origins of animal names, from the orangutan, whose name has nothing to do with its fur colour, to the pangolin, named for its ability to curl into a ball. Discover the etymology behind mythical human-animal hybrids like the minotaur, werewolf and mermaid, as well as how names like Rachel, Callum, Arthur and Ursula have animal-inspired roots. Plus, uncover the surprising histories behind phrases like 'let the cat out of the bag' and' curry favour', the latter of which has equine origins and no connection to Indian cuisine.

Until April 10th 2025, get 15% off animal-themed socks at Bare Kind, a company that donates a portion of its profits to animal conservation organisations.  Minimum purchase £20. Use the code Etymoleon15 at checkout: https://barekind.co.uk/