The origin or etymology of words is often fascinating. So much of our spoken and written communications contain phrases with accepted meanings but long forgotten origins. A favourite example of mine is codswallop.
–noun British Slang.
nonsense; rubbish.
The origin of this phrase is obscure but it may have it’s root in the invention of a 19th century bottle maker called Hiram Codd. The story goes that Codd invented a bottle with a neck that was suitable for storing fizzy beverages. Brewers weren’t so impressed and suggested it was only good for the worst quality beer, for which the slang term is “wallop”.
Recently I got an email about the Chapeau Blog Awards asking for nominations for different blogs in different categories. They included a link to a BlogOhPedia containing a small collection of new phrases relating to blogging.
Here’s a few suggestions:
- Blogarrhea – a painful condition where someone must blog each and every thought
- Blogpocracy – posting contradictory opinions with no justification for the change of mind
- Blogswallop – the kind of totally indulgent rubbish that could only exist on a blog
- Blarcasm – an ironic taunt posted to a blog
- Blogtroll – someone who actively attempts to create conflict with blog owners and other posters through inflammatory comments.