Word of the Day
More about cannikin
Cannikin, “a small can or drinking cup,” is adapted from Middle Dutch cannekijn, “little can,” which is equivalent to Middle Dutch canne, “can,” combined with the diminutive suffix -kijn, “little, small.” Canne and English can may be related to Late Latin canna, “small vessel,” which itself may derive from Latin canna, “reed,” but any potential connections among these four words is controversial. The suffix -kijn is the source of English -kin, as in lambkin, and is related to German -chen, as in Gretchen, “little Margareta.” Cannikin was first recorded in English in the 1560s.
EXAMPLE OF CANNIKIN USED IN A SENTENCE
Minutes after tapping another keg of mead, cannikins and goblets across the dining hall were filled to their brims—and quickly emptied.
calash
noun
a light vehicle pulled by one or two horses, seating two to four passengers, and having two or four wheels, a seat for a driver on a splashboard, and sometimes a folding top.
More about calash
Calash “a light vehicle seating two to four passengers” is an adaptation of French calèche, which is itself a borrowing by way of German from Czech kolesa “carriage,” related to kolo “wheel,” both from an ancient Slavic root meaning “wheel.” Because the Slavic languages constitute a branch of the Indo-European language family, Czech kolesa and kolo have relatives throughout Europe and southern Asia, from English wheel (Old English hwēol) and Ancient Greek kýklos “wheel, circle, ring” (compare English cycle and cyclo-) to Sanskrit cakra “wheel, circle” (borrowed into English as chakra) and Persian charkha (also transliterated as čarxe) “spinning wheel.” Check out the recent Word of the Day bazaar for more. Calash was first recorded in English in the 1660s.
EXAMPLE OF CALASH USED IN A SENTENCE
As the calash clattered over the slick, wet cobblestones, the passengers pulled down the folding top to keep the rain out.
yeuk
verb (used without object)
to itch.
Why the Museum of Science chose yeuk
It feels so good to yeuk when you have a yeuk, and we wanted to know why. To find out, watch this video from science communicator, Alex Dainis, PhD.
More about yeuk
Yeuk comes from Middle Dutch jeuken, which is also related to German jucken and Old English giccan (pronounced “yeet-chahn”), all of which mean “to itch.” A common trend in the history of the English language is for Old English gi-, when pronounced as “yee,” to lose the g eventually, which is why modern English has itch instead of “gitch” or “yitch.” Yeuk was first recorded in English at the turn of the 15th century. Satisfy your itch for more words with the medical term for itching.
EXAMPLE OF YEUK USED IN A SENTENCE
Steer clear of poison ivy leaves when you’re on a hike, or you may start yeuking for days on end!
FUN FACT ABOUT YEUK
Rubbing or lightly slapping a yeuk has the same feel-good effect as yeuking, without the risk of damage to the skin. Learn more fun facts at the Museum of Science.
