Washington D.C. is a hotbed of political intrigue. But where, exactly, does the term, “Hotbed” come from and when was it first used? Discover the answers in this episode of, "History of Everyday Sayings”.

According to Merriam-Webster Online, the earliest use of “Hotbed” dates to 1626 where the word described, "a bed of soil enclosed in glass, heated especially by fermenting manure, and used for forcing or for raising seedlings”.

By 1768, the word was commonly used when describing an environment favoring rapid growth or developments, e.g., a “hotbed of activity”.

Sources:

Merriam-Webster Online: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hotbed.

Etymonline: https://www.etymonline.com/word/hotbed.

“The QPB Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins” by Robert Hendrickson.

“Why You Say It” by Webb Garrison.

Host: Stephen Carter;
Email: [email protected]

Mic: EV RE320

Key words:

Hotbed, hothouse, greenhouse, seedlings, gardening,