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- etymology - Which was the first doctor, M. D. or Ph. D. ? - English . . .
But which of Ph D or M D was first referred to as a doctor? Are you saying that at the year such degree titles letters started to be conferred, those people were already referred to as 'doctor'? And if so, then the answer boils down to which of PhD or MD was the first to be conferred?
- etymology - Where did the phrase batsh*t crazy come from? - English . . .
The word crazy is a later addition Scanning Google Books I find a handful of references starting from the mid-60s where batshit is clearly just a variation on bullshit (nonsense, rubbish) - which meaning still turns up even in 2001, but it's relatively uncommon now Here's a relatively early one from 1967 where the meaning is crazy A decade later most references have this meaning, but the
- etymology - Origin of the word cum - English Language Usage Stack . . .
What is the origin of the word cum? I'm trying to find the roots for its prevalent usage, especially in North America
- etymology - What is the origin of the phrase ‘By the by. . . ’? - English . . .
By the by dates from the 1610’s (confirmed by Alenanno’s data), and the key (and originality) to its etymology is in the second by Etymonline says of by: Originally an adverbial particle of place, in which sense it is retained in place names (Whitby, Grimsby, etc ) Elliptical use for "secondary course" (opposed to main) in Old English Incidentally, this implies that by the by is the
- etymology - Where did Im Jonesing get its meaning from? - English . . .
I'm Jonesing for a little Ganja, mon I'm jonesing for a little soul food, brother (verb) jonesed; jonesing; joneses to have a strong desire or craving for something (Merriam Webster) Where
- etymology - Why do people say buck for a dollar? - English Language . . .
The word has been in use in this sense since 1748 according to etymonline I would guess most currencies have changed their designs quite significantly since then, and the term likely didn't come from any design on a coin at all The fact that there happens to be a buck on the 1 rand coin is probably either coincidental or reversely causal: they could have put the buck on the coin because a
- How did the word beaver come to be associated with vagina?
What is the etymology of the word beaver as it relates to a woman's vagina?
- etymology - How did sinister, the Latin word for left-handed, get . . .
Sinister is the Latin word for left-handed What evolution of meaning turned left-handed into evil and threatening?
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