Fun Etymology

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Etymology is the study of the history of words - when they entered a language, from what source, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.

Avocado: Originally the Aztecs called this fruit ahucatl after their word for testicle. To the Spaniards ahucatl sounded like avocado, which is Spanish for advocate, and so the fruit came to Europe, via Spain, under that name.

tire: 1485, "iron rim of a carriage wheel," probably from tire "equipment, dress, covering" (c.1300), a form of attire. The notion is of the tire as the dressing of the wheel. The original spelling was tyre, which had shifted to tire in 17c.-18c., but since early 19c. tyre has been revived in Great Britain and become standard there. Rubber ones, for bicycles (later automobiles) are from 1870s.

rubber: "thing that rubs," 1536, from rub (v.).
first recorded 1788, introduced to Europe 1744 by Charles Marie de la Condamine, so called because it was originally used as an eraser.

"Very useful for erasing the strokes of black lead pencils, and is popularly called rubber, and lead-eater."

shampoo:
1762 "to massage," from Anglo-Indian shampoo, from Hindi champo
1860 "wash the hair"
1866 "soap for shampooing" first recorded.
1954 clean carpets, upholstery, etc.

engine:
1300, from O.Fr. engin "skill, cleverness,"
also "war machine," from L. ingenium "inborn qualities, talent,"
from in- "in" + gen-, root of gignere "to beget, produce."
At first meaning a trick or device, or any machine (especially military)
1839 Engineer "locomotive driver".

Internet:
1986 shortened from internetwork, from inter- + network.












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