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[deekay]

Never too late to learn something!

1.  Q: Why are many coin banks shaped like pigs? A: Long ago, dishes and
cookware in Europe were made of a dense orange clay called 'pygg'.  When
people saved coins in jars made of this clay, the jars became known as 'pygg
banks.' When an English potter misunderstood the word, he made a bank that
resembled a pig.  And it caught on

2.  Q: Did you ever wonder why dimes, quarters and half dollars have notches,
while pennies and nickels do not? A: The US Mint began putting notches on
the edges of coins containing gold and silver to discourage holders from
shaving off small quantities of the precious metals.  Dimes, quarters and
half dollars are notched because they used to contain silver.  Pennies and
nickels aren't notched because the metals they contain are not valuable
enough to shave.

3.  Q: Why do men's clothes have buttons on the right while women's clothes
have buttons on the left? A: When buttons were invented, they were very
expensive and worn primarily by the rich.  Because wealthy women were dressed
by maids, dressmakers put the buttons on the maid's right! Since most people
are right-handed, it is easier to push buttons on the right through holes on
the left.  And that's where women's buttons have remained since.

4..  Q.  Why do X's at the end of a letter signify kisses? A: In the Middle
Ages, when many people were unable to read or write, documents were often
signed using an X.  Kissing the X represented an oath to fulfill obligations
specified in the document.  The X and the kiss eventually became synonymous.


5.  Q: Why is shifting responsibility to someone else called 'passing the
buck'? A: In card games, it was once customary to pass an item, called a
buck, from player to player to indicate whose turn it was to deal.  If a
player did not wish to assume the responsibility, he would 'pass the buck'
to the next player..


6.  Q: Why do people clink their glasses before drinking a toast? A: It used
to be common for someone to try to kill an enemy by offering him a poisoned
drink.  To prove to a guest that a drink was safe, it became customary for a
guest to pour a small amount of his drink into the glass of the host.  Both
men would drink it simultaneously.  When a guest trusted his host, he would
then just Touch or clink the host's glass with his own.


7.  Q: Why are people in the public eye said to be 'in the limelight'? A:
Invented in 1825, limelight was used in lighthouses and stage lighting by
burning a cylinder of lime which produced a brilliant light.  In the theatre,
performers on stage 'in the limelight' were seen by the audience to be the
center of attention.


8.  Q: Why do ships and aircraft in trouble use 'mayday' as their call for
help? A: This comes from the French word m'aidez - meaning 'help me' - and
is pronounced 'mayday.'


9.  Q: Why is someone who is feeling great 'on cloud nine'? A: Types of
clouds are numbered according to the altitudes they attain, with nine being
the highest cloud.  If someone is said to be on cloud nine, that person is
floating well above worldly cares.


10.  Q: Why are zero scores in tennis called 'love'? A: In France , where
tennis first became popular, a big, round zero on the scoreboard looked like
an egg and was called 'l'oeuf,' which is French for 'egg.' When tennis was
introduced in the US , Americans pronounced it 'love.'


11.  Q: In golf, where did the term 'Caddie' come from? A.  When Mary, later
Queen of Scots, went to France as a young girl (for education & survival),
Louis, King of France, learned that she loved the Scot game 'golf.' So he
had the first golf course outside of Scotland built for her enjoyment.  To
make sure she was properly chaperoned (and guarded) while she played, Louis
hired cadets from a military school to accompany her.  Mary liked this a lot
and when she returned to Scotland (not a very good idea in the long run),
she took the practice with her.  In French, the word cadet is pronounced
'ca-day' and the Scots changed it into 'caddie.'


Think how much smarter you are now.

[bknerr]

good stuff. i read a lot and most of that is new to me, thanks.

[GregKhougaz]

Loved it!

[Screamin_Beagle]

I love old facts (or even creative stories) of the origin of words......Thnaks for the post.

[postal52]

  I always find it interesting to learn the origin of sayings, or words & phrases , thanks for the great post .!