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Son of Origins of Words and Phrases

Created by vendome

Fun Trivia : Quizzes : Etymology
Son of Origins of Words and Phrases game quiz
"More strange origins of familiar words and phrases."

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  



1. This term for liquor came into popular usage from a Philadelphia distiller, but was really derived from a Middle Dutch verb, dating back to 1590. Hic! What's the word?
    liqueur
    booze
    brew
    spirits


2. This word has its origin in the U.S. Congress and dates from 1820, when the 'Missouri question' was being debated. What's the word?
    filibustering
    bunk
    carpet-bagger
    yankee


3. This term for U.S. currency dates back to the 1500s, in the Czech Republic, no less! It has as is root the Germanic 'Joachimstaler.' Vat is de verd?
    dime
    dollar
    cash
    money


4. Vile ve are, whoops! sorry! While we're on the topic of U.S. currency, Thomas Jefferson suggested that we use another foreign word for a unit of currency. Which one?
    n'est quelle (nickel)
    centime (cent)
    quartier (quarter)
    disme (dime)


5. This word has had multiple meanings during its evolution, each quite different, but each related to the same root in Dutch having to do with drugs. Which word?
    smack
    dope
    reefer
    hooch


6. This word probably came to us from the Latin for 'who are you?', and from the French for 'what is it?' So....what is it?
    curious
    question
    quiz
    inquisitive


7. This word, strangely enough, reverts back to a holy place and the Hospital of St Mary in London. What, pray tell, is the word?
    bedlam
    deranged
    unstable
    asylum


8. The original meaning of this word in Old English is 'rent' or 'tribute, which could be paid in cattle or goods instead of coins, usually the opposite of what the collector wanted. The word?
    extortion
    blackmail
    obligation
    promissory


9. This word could have originated with Dr. Seuss or, then again, it could come from Edgar Bergen's dummy. Either way, it's become a part of our common usage. Which one is it?
    nerd
    geek
    dork
    dweeb


10. This word has nothing to do with horses, contrary to what most people think. It has to do with incubus or succubus phenomena. Confused? Good. Now, what's the word?
    nightmare
    nag
    equine
    dobbin


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