The study of etymology involves tracing the origins of a particular word or phrase. Researching what part of the world a word originated in and when it was first used, are valuable clues in figuring out the meaning of a word. Also, etymology can be useful in revealing whether the meaning of a word or phrase has remained the same through centuries of usage.

The history of the English language reveals a lot about words and why some of them have endured through the ages.

· History of the English Language : Learn about the English language and all of the events in history that contributed to its development.

· Origins of Words : Read this list featuring root words that are Latin in origin and the meanings of each. You'll find that many of the English words we use today are built upon these Latin base words.

· The Progression of the English Language : Discover how the English language has changed and developed through history and the importance of inflection.

There are several familiar phrases used in everyday conversation that have surprising meanings. Some examples found in the collection of Meanings Behind Words and Phrases include:

· Bimbo: The origins of this word are found in the early twentieth century. At that time it referred to a, "..fellow.." Over the years the term broadened to mean, "..stupid..man.." In the late twentieth century, the word's meaning shifted again to include women.

· Blackmail: This word has travelled from the sixteenth century where it was used in reference to the, "..protection rackets against Scottish farmers.." happening at that time. The term communicates the impression of an, "..evil practice.."

· Cocktail: A word from the early nineteenth century originally referring to various mixtures using brandy and served in an, "..egg cup.." The cocktail is named for what it was served in.

· Cold Turkey: This phrase was first used to describe a drug addict stopping all drug use at once. The turkey connection is explained when you consider that there is no preparation involved in fixing a cold turkey dish.

· Curfew: The Origins of Curfew are found in the French language. The word translates to, "..cover the fire.." This refers to the practice in homes that used open fires for cooking to make sure the fire had died down for the night and would not spread. The curfew was, "..the signal or bell to cover or extinguish fires." This signal was delivered by the, "..town crier.."

· Dirt Poor: The origin of this phrase is unclear. The connection of poor with the word dirt may refer to the lowest level of poverty.

· Eighty-Six: The meaning of this Unique Phrase relates to the beginning days of a restaurant called Delmonico's. The steak offered as number eighty-six on the menu, "..was often unavailable during the restaurant's early years."

· Hello: This word bloomed from a version of the sixteenth century word, hollo.

· Jerk: A, "..tedious, ineffectual person.." originated as slang used by carnival workers in America.

· Kick the Bucket: This phrase with dark origins related to a person hanging himself by standing on a bucket and then kicking it away.

· Mortgage: A word out of the fifteenth century that literally means, "..dead pledge.." The agreement is finished, "..either when the debt is paid or when payment fails.."

· OK: This word came to life in the early nineteenth century as an abbreviation of the funny expression, oll-korrect or all correct.

· Pipe Dream: An expression that is related to the outlandish fantasies a person experiences under the influence of opium.

· Red Herring: A phrase that refers to using a distraction to lead someone away from the truth. Its meaning is literal in that criminals on the run from the police used to throw herrings down hoping the strong odor would distract the police hounds from further pursuit.

· Scapegoat: One that receives punishment,"..for the mistakes, sins of others.." In the Bible as an act of atonement, a goat was symbolically given the, "..sins of the people.." and then put out into the wild.

· Sleep Tight: This phrase described the wish that another person sleep in safety or security.

· Stool Pigeon: An expression that relates to the use of decoys that are, "..fastened to stools.." to attract other birds or perhaps a hawk that someone wished to capture.

· Threshold: This word refers to an entrance area such as a doorstep. Thresh means, "..tread or trample.."

· Vampire: This word has origins in the German word, "..vampir.." It described a legendary creature that evolved from the eastern part of Europe that was said to be an, "..undead corpse." Stories and movies have kept the word and the creature alive for centuries.

· Widow: The early meanings of this word from the fourteenth century include, "..lonely..solitary.." A base of the word spelled, "..weidh.." means, "..separation.."

To learn more common phrases and their origins, visit:

· Words with Interesting Origins : An extensive list of words, where they originated, and how they were used.

· The Story Behind the Word : Discover the history of words that are familiar and unfamiliar in our language.

· Unusual Words are Explained : Learn the definitions and backgrounds of odd looking words.

· A Gathering of Phrases : An abundant list of phrases used through history with an explanation of each.

· The History of a Term : Check out the origins of some of the familiar phrases of today.

A word's history can reveal a lot about its meaning, as well as give an impression of the era when it came into being. Students, if you work at home on a writing project for school make it a point to research the origins of any unfamiliar words as a way to clarify them even more. Many work at home careers that involve reading and writing allow for opportunities to look further into the workings of the English language. The more you can learn about the etymology of a word, the better you'll understand its