- What does a walnut have to do with walls? The word comes from the Old English walhnutu, meaning foreign nut. They were originally grown in Italy and imported, and the northern Europeans named them to distinguish them from the native hazelnut.
- A crayfish is not a fish. The name comes from the old French word "crevice," through the Old German "crebiz "and the modern French "ecrevisse." The "fish" part is just the result of a mishearing."
"The Secret Life of Words "is a wide-ranging chronicle of how words witness history, reflect social change, and remind us of our past.
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- What does a walnut have to do with walls? The word comes from the Old English walhnutu, meaning foreign nut. They were originally grown in Italy and imported, and the northern Europeans named them to distinguish them from the native hazelnut.
- A crayfish is not a fish. The name comes from the old French word "crevice," through the Old German "crebiz "and the modern French "ecrevisse." The "fish" part is just the result of a mishearing."
"The Secret Life of Words "is a wide-ranging chronicle of how words witness history, reflect social change, and remind us of our past.
Imprint | John Murray Publishers Ltd |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Release date | March 2009 |
Availability | Expected to ship within 9 - 15 working days |
Authors | Henry Hitchings |
Dimensions | 198 x 129 x 28mm (L x W x T) |
Format | Paperback |
Pages | 440 |
ISBN-13 | 978-0-7195-6455-0 |
Barcode | 9780719564550 |
Categories | |
LSN | 0-7195-6455-7 |