Fun language trivia questions and answers.
What letter of the alphabet is the oldest.
A: The O.
On sailboats, what are barnacles and binnacles?
A: A barnacle is a marine animal that attaches itself to a boat's
bottom; a binnacle is a covered, nonmagnetic case that contains a
ship's compass and a light.
How could the word mile be derived from the Latin phrase mille
passuum, which means 1,000 paces when it takes at least twice that
many steps to walk a mile?
A: The 1,000 paces referred to were those of the Roman Legion, whose
formal parade step consisted of two steps that covered a distance of
5.2 feet. That would make a mile 5,200 feet--very close to
today's statute mile of 5,280 feet.
What is the only word in the English language that both begins
and ends with the letters u-n-d?
A: Underground.
What two dances are among the words used in the radio
communications alphabet that begins Alpha, Bravo Charlie?
A: Foxtrot and Tango.
What is the meaning of the word Siberia?
A: It's from sibir, which means "sleeping giant" in the language of
the Taatars who once dwelled in the area.
What physical phenomenon are you experiencing if you have
horripilation?
A: Gooseflesh--the bristling of hair on your head or body caused by
fear, cold, or disease.
What is the meaning of the legal term pro se?
A: "By oneself"--without a lawyer.
What is the meaning of the Huron-Iroquois Indian word kanata--from
which Canada derives its name?
A: The name of the world's second largest country comes from a word
that means "small village." Explorer Jacques Cartier first
used it for the area around what is now Quebec city.
How much does a bushel of apples weigh?
A: About 42 pounds.
What punctuation mark is derived from the Latin word for joy?
A: The exclamation point (!). Joy in Latin is io, which was
abbreviated by putting the i above the o.
What is the meaning of the word aprosexia?
A: "Abnormal inability to concentrate."
What astronomical term comes from the Greek word for milk?
A: Galaxy. In Greek, gala means "milk." The Greeks thought the
Milky Way looked like milk spilled across the sky.
What is the origin of the expression "knock on wood"?
A: It dates back to ancient European cultures whose members believed
guardian spirits lived in trees and could be summoned to help
with a little knocking.
What does the German word "bad" mean?
A: Bath.
In the international civil aviation alphabet used by airport
control towers, the letters A, B, and C are represented by Alfa,
Bravo, and Charlie. What about X, Y, Z?
A: They're X-ray, Yankee, Zulu.
What is the literal translation of the pasta "vermicelli"?
A: "Little worms"--describing its shape.
What are yurts?
A: The domed, circular portable tents used by the nomads of Mongolia
and Siberia.
What is the origin of the word "flak"?
A: It's an acronym for the German Fliegerabwebrkanonen, an
anti-aircraft gun.
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