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Quiz about Origins of English words and phrases
Quiz about Origins of English words and phrases

Origins of English words and phrases Quiz

Interesting origins to common words and phrases.

A multiple-choice quiz by vendome. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
vendome
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
4,948
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
2249
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. This word derived from the capturing of Slavic people in Eastern Europe by Germanic tribes. What's the word? Hint


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Question 2 of 10
2. This word comes from the Persian phrase 'Shah Mat.' Do you know the word? Hint


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Question 3 of 10
3. This phrase originally came from the theater and served as a cast instruction. What is it? Hint


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Question 4 of 10
4. This word comes from the Dutch 'vrijbuiter', a term applied to pirates in the Caribbean in the 16th century. Its French and Spanish equivalents were applied to revolutionaries. By the 18th century, its current meaning was adopted. The word is ? Hint


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Question 5 of 10
5. The phrase, 'the full Monty', came from England and is used to mean 'the whole thing.' From where did it originate? Hint


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Question 6 of 10
6. This comes from the French, 'catdoupe' literally meaning 'waterfall'. It was first used by Jonathan Swift in 'Polite Conversations,' in 1708. What is it? Hint


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Question 7 of 10
7. This word's current meaning is far different than its original use. It is first found in 'Beowolf' as a noun meaning 'fate' or 'destiny.' Its new use, as an adjective, was used by Shakespeare to describe someone's sister. It then evolved to mean 'skilled in witchcraft', and then to today's meaning. What is it? Hint


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Question 8 of 10
8. This phrase most likely comes from French, 'to tie up with a ribbon.' It originated as a blasphemous term for the communion host, and evolved to mean the format used to sign grievance petitons so as to disguise the leader of the group. Can you guess which one it is? Hint


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Question 9 of 10
9. This word started as an acronym in England and is a slang term for a policeman, and also has roots in the French verb, 'to take.' Which is it? Hint


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Question 10 of 10
10. This word comes from the French phrase meaning 'to cover the fire,' and is associated with the ringing of a bell in medieval times. What's the word? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. This word derived from the capturing of Slavic people in Eastern Europe by Germanic tribes. What's the word?

Answer: slave

 The original word was probably sclave, derived from the Middle Latin word for a slave, sclavus (the s being an abbreviation for 'sine', so a sclavus was without a key). The fact that so many slaves in the region were Slavs probably led to the dropping of the c.
2. This word comes from the Persian phrase 'Shah Mat.' Do you know the word?

Answer: checkmate

 'Shah Mat' literally means: 'The king is dead.'
3. This phrase originally came from the theater and served as a cast instruction. What is it?

Answer: face the music

 With musicians in a pit before the stage, this was a command for the actor to turn towards the audience.
4. This word comes from the Dutch 'vrijbuiter', a term applied to pirates in the Caribbean in the 16th century. Its French and Spanish equivalents were applied to revolutionaries. By the 18th century, its current meaning was adopted. The word is ?

Answer: filibuster

 The French and Spanish versions are 'filibustier' and 'filibustero' respectively. The connection is probably that the filibusterers were hijacking the debate much like pirates hijacked ships.
5. The phrase, 'the full Monty', came from England and is used to mean 'the whole thing.' From where did it originate?

Answer: the origin is unclear - there is some evidence to support various theories

 Field Marshall Montgomery was noted for his meticulously planned assaults (giving the enemy the 'full Monty'), and his immaculate grooming in his full-dress uniform and medals. He was also known for eating a full English breakfast, and as that was known in some places as "the full Monty", there is some evidence that this is the origin of the phrase.

It is also possible that "the full Monty" is a three piece suit with an extra pair of pants, from Montague Burton - this is certainly the version of the story most accepted in the North of England.

It's very unlikely that the phrase came from fruit juice.

There is enough of a lack of concrete evidence on the phrase's origin that we have to accept that we just don't know for sure.
6. This comes from the French, 'catdoupe' literally meaning 'waterfall'. It was first used by Jonathan Swift in 'Polite Conversations,' in 1708. What is it?

Answer: raining cats and dogs
7. This word's current meaning is far different than its original use. It is first found in 'Beowolf' as a noun meaning 'fate' or 'destiny.' Its new use, as an adjective, was used by Shakespeare to describe someone's sister. It then evolved to mean 'skilled in witchcraft', and then to today's meaning. What is it?

Answer: weird
8. This phrase most likely comes from French, 'to tie up with a ribbon.' It originated as a blasphemous term for the communion host, and evolved to mean the format used to sign grievance petitons so as to disguise the leader of the group. Can you guess which one it is?

Answer: Round Robin

 Round Robin comes from the French 'rond ruban' that was used to tie up documents.
9. This word started as an acronym in England and is a slang term for a policeman, and also has roots in the French verb, 'to take.' Which is it?

Answer: cop

 Constable On Patrol became 'cop,' with ties to French 'caper', to take.
10. This word comes from the French phrase meaning 'to cover the fire,' and is associated with the ringing of a bell in medieval times. What's the word?

Answer: curfew

 'Couvre feu' became curfew. In medieval times, the tolling of a bell indicated it was time to prepare for sleep by extinguishing the fire.
Source: Author vendome

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Referenced Topics
Music   People   Humanities   English   European Geography   Vocabulary   England   Etymology   French Language   Spanish Language   Caribbean   Cats   English People   Latin Language   Pirates   Dutch Language   French: Famous & Historical  

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