Lexiconned

From Augusta’s fairways to your next metaphorical mulligan, the language of golf has reached far beyond the course. In this witty and word-rich episode of Lexiconned, we explore the origins, myths, and double meanings behind 18 iconic golf terms—from par and birdie to duff, shank, and mulligan.

Whether you're a scratch golfer or a vocabulary duffer, this episode tees up the surprising ways golf talk has made its way into everyday speech—and culture at large.

Warning: May cause spontaneous whispering and sudden urges to wear pastel.

#podcast #language #golf #Masters

Sources

• Oxford English Dictionary – Entries for “par,” “bogey,” “mulligan,” “fore,” and more
• Online Etymology Dictionary – Golf term origins, including “hook,” “slice,” “duff,” and “drive”
• The USGA and R&A – Official rules and definitions of golf terms
• “The Historical Dictionary of Golfing Terms” by Peter Davies
• Atlantic City Country Club Archives – Birdie origin story
• The New York Times & Maclean’s Magazine – First printed use of “eagle”
• Samuel Taylor Coleridge – The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (re: albatross)
• BBC Sports History Archives – Bogeyman and Colonel Bogey references
• Golf Digest & Golf.com – Cultural references and Masters history
• The Simpsons, Season 1–34 – Honorary source for “Duff”

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From mythological warrior women to the largest rainforest on Earth to the global e-commerce empire that changed how we shop, the word Amazon has carried power and mystery across millennia. In this episode of Lexiconned, we explore the Greek origins of the word, the colonial rebranding of a mighty river, and how a small online bookstore became an economic titan. Was the Amazon River really named after fierce female warriors? Did ancient Amazons actually exist? And what does Jeff Bezos have to do with all of this? Tune in for an etymological deep dive into one of the world’s most influential words.

Sources:

• Herodotus, Histories
• Francisco de Orellana’s expedition accounts
• Modern linguistic research on Scythian and Persian influences
• Historical analyses of Indigenous Amazonian cultures
• Business histories detailing the founding of Amazon.com

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What makes a constitution? In this episode of Lexiconned, we unravel the history, evolution, and deeper meanings of the word ‘Constitution.’ From its Latin origins in ancient Rome to its transformation into the guiding principles of nations, we explore how this word has adapted over centuries—much like the U.S. Constitution itself.  Whether you’re a history buff, a language lover, or just someone who enjoys a good etymology deep dive, this episode has something for you. Stay curious, stay kind, and try to stay out of trouble—this is Lexiconned 

Sources:

1. Oxford English Dictionary – ‘Constitution’ Etymology
2. Merriam-Webster – Historical Uses and Meanings of ‘Constitution’
3. The Federalist Papers – Origins of the U.S. Constitution
4. Britannica – Constitutional Systems Around the World
5. Ancient Roman Legal Codes – Use of Constitutio in Imperial Decrees
6. National Archives – History and Amendments of the U.S. Constitution
7. Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice – Literary Use of ‘Constitution’
8. Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook – ‘Constitution’ as a Stamina Attribute
9. Library of Congress – Evolution and Interpretations of the Constitution Over Time
10. Harvard Law Review – The U.S. Constitution as a Living Document

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In this episode we dive into the history of measles, a word that originated from Latin misellus, meaning "little miserable".  Through a first-hand narrative set in 1912, we witness the devastating impact of measles in a world before vaccines. We explore its linguistic origins, its historical outbreaks, its devastating role in global pandemics, and its surprising influence on everyday language. We also examine the groundbreaking development of the measles vaccine and the modern resurgence of the disease due to vaccine hesitancy. Tune in to uncover the true history behind measles—a word with more baggage than just a rash and fever.

Sources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Measles History, Vaccination, and Current Trends
https://www.cdc.gov/measles/

World Health Organization (WHO) – Global Measles Surveillance & Vaccine Impact
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/measles

History of Vaccines – The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
https://www.historyofvaccines.org/

Francis Home’s 1757 Study on Measles as an Infectious Disease – Medical and Historical Archives

The Lancet: Measles and Its Historical Impact on Global Populations
https://www.thelancet.com/

Rhazes (Abu Bakr al-Razi) – Early Medical Writings on Measles and Smallpox
Kitab al-Judari wa al-Hasbah (The Book of Smallpox and Measles)

John Enders & Peebles’ Isolation of the Measles Virus (1954) – Journal of Experimental Medicine

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Hope is a powerful, universal concept—so much so that it has been woven into our language for centuries. But where does the word actually come from? Has it always meant what we think it does? From Old English roots to its evolution into modern optimism, we’ll unravel the history of ‘hope,’ its surprising etymology, and the ways it has been wielded both as inspiration and as manipulation.

What makes you hopeful? 

This episode is a special listener request.

Sources:

• Oxford English Dictionary (OED)
• Merriam-Webster Dictionary
• Etymonline.com (Douglas Harper’s Online Etymology Dictionary)
• The American Presidency Project (Clinton’s speeches)
• Various linguistic studies on cross-cultural interpretations of ‘hope’
• Bill Clinton's speech to the DNC (1992)

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Have you ever walked out of a store feeling like you just made a deal with the devil? That moment when a price tag makes you question whether you really need both of your limbs? In this episode of Lexiconned, we dive into the origins of the phrase ‘cost an arm and a leg.’ From debunking myths about portrait painters to tracing its rise in post-World War II America, we explore how this vivid expression became a go-to way to complain about high prices. Plus, we look at its pop culture influence and why it remains a favorite way to express financial pain. Tune in—no limbs required!

#Inflation

Sources:

1. The Long Beach Independent, 1949 (earliest printed reference)
2. Oxford English Dictionary (OED) – Etymology and historical usage of “cost an arm and a leg”
3. Etymology Online (etymonline.com) – Evolution and linguistic history of the phrase
4. Green’s Dictionary of Slang – Historical slang records related to exaggerated cost expressions
5. Phrasefinder UK (phrases.org.uk) – Background on similar idioms and potential origin theories
6. Chronicling America (Library of Congress) – Newspaper archives for early recorded instances
7. Newspapers.com – Additional historical newspaper references to confirm phrase usage
8. Google Books – Literature and print records tracking idiomatic expressions over time

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What do factory workers, sci-fi nightmares, and your Roomba all have in common? They all owe their existence to the word robot. In this episode of Lexiconned, we explore the origins of robot, from its creation in a Czech play to its modern implications in AI, automation, and ethics. Join TJ as he dissects how a simple word became one of the most futuristic—and unsettling—concepts of our time.

[SOURCES]

• R.U.R.—Rossum’s Universal Robots by Karel Čapek
• I, Robot by Isaac Asimov
• Various academic papers on robotics and AI ethics
• Historical research on the Czech term robota and its feudal origins
• Studies on modern robotics and AI development

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What do medieval fire safety laws, teenage rebellion, and government lockdowns have in common? The word curfew! In this episode of Lexiconned, we trace the fiery origins of curfew back to its Old French roots (couvre-feu), explore how William the Conqueror used it to control England, and uncover how it evolved into a tool for social order (and teenage frustration). From historical edicts to modern-day riots, curfew has always been about control—whether it’s over fire, unrest, or late-night mischief. Tune in for a deep dive into this fascinating word, complete with history, humor, and a few unexpected twists.

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Sources:

• Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary. “Curfew.”
• Oxford English Dictionary. Curfew: Origin and Historical Uses.
• BBC History. “William the Conqueror’s Curfew Laws.”
• Various historical records on medieval fire safety measures.
• Reports on modern curfews and related riots, including the 1966 Sunset Strip Riots and the 2021 Dutch Curfew Riots.

#Etymology, #WordsWithAStory #Lexiconned, #PunIntended , #WordNerd
#Linguistics , #LanguageLovers , #WordsAreFun, #EtymologyHumor
#HistoryOfWords, #NerdyThings, #SmartHumor, #EducationalPodcast
#HistoryPodcast, #WeeklyPodcast, #WordPodcast

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 Love—it’s a word that carries more baggage than a bad breakup. But where does it come from, and how did it become the catch-all term for everything from deep friendship to obsessive romance? In this special Valentine’s Day episode of Lexiconned, we dive into the origins of love, tracing it from Old English lufu to Shakespeare’s poetry and beyond. We’ll explore love’s many linguistic forms, its role in history and literature, and some of the strangest love-related idioms in the English language. Plus, we ask the big questions: Why do we fall in love? What did “making love” originally mean? And can one word really capture all the complexities of human emotion? Tune in for a mix of etymology, history, and humor—because love, like language, is never simple. 

Sources:

• Etymology of "Love": Etymonline (https://www.etymonline.com/word/love)
• Old English "lufu": Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon manuscripts
• Greek words for love: The Cambridge Dictionary of Classical Civilization
• Shakespeare's influence on love idioms: Oxford English Dictionary
• Origins of "making love": Historical English linguistics studies

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Whiskey: The Water of Life and the Spirit of History"
In this episode of Lexiconned, TJ pours into the rich, complex history of whiskey, the storied spirit that has warmed hearts and sparked debates for centuries. From its Gaelic roots as "uisce beatha"—the "water of life"—to its pivotal role in America’s Whiskey Rebellion, this episode explores whiskey’s journey across continents and centuries. Discover the differences between Scotch whisky and Irish whiskey, the rise of bourbon as a uniquely American creation, and the cultural legacy of this iconic drink. Whether you take it neat or on the rocks, this episode will leave you thirsty for more. Sláinte! 


Sources:
https://www.rebellionresearch.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whiskey_Rebellion
https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803122045416#:~:text=Name%20derived%20from%20the%20Gaelic,to%20make%20whisky%20(1494).
https://specificmechanical.com/news/blog/the-differences-between-distilling-irish-whiskey-and-scottish-whisky/#:~:text=Irish%20whiskey%20is%20often%20triple,critical%20step%20for%20both%20spirits.

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