Namely, 21

NAMELY

eponyms (EP-uh-nimz)

a word based on or derived from a person's name.

First Known Use: mid-19^th century

“What’s in a Name?”

Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, 2.2­­

21: leotard: a form-fitting, one-piece garment that covers the torso; it may or may not have sleeves, and is often worn by acrobats, dancers and skaters (from Jules Leotard, 1838–70, French aerial gymnast; he popularized the clothing that now bears his name; song “The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze” is about him; first use of word—1886)

I have not worn a leotard—

The reason is not very hard

To figure out. It’s certain that

The leotard would show my … fat.

And that is not a happy thought.

So will I ever wear one? Not!

You won’t ask for my autograph

If all I do is make you laugh.

So … picture me … a leotard!

It’s something you can’t disregard.

It’s now forever in your brain,

Where it will have enduring reign!

Namely, 20

NAMELY

eponym (EP-oh-nim)

a word based on or derived from a person's name.

First Known Use: mid-19^th century

“What’s in a Name?”

Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, 2.2­­

20: jumbo: something that is very large; also used as an adjective (from the name of the elephant exhibited by P. T. Barnum; Jumbo died in 1885 after being hit by a train; first use of word—1883)

Now here’s a phrase to make you laugh—

It’s “jumbo shrimp” (just laugh, don’t cry!)—

An oxymoron—epitaph

For language gone a bit awry.

We now use “jumbo” all the time—

For things that range from this to that—

And that poor elephant sublime,

Dragged from his natural habitat

And given such a silly name

Would see it in the grocery store—

Oh, naming: such a human game!—

And if he could, I bet he’d roar!

Namely, 19

NAMELY

EP-oh-nimz

a word based on or derived from a person's name.

First Known Use: mid-19^th century

“What’s in a Name?”

Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, 2.2­­

19: Jacuzzi: a small indoor or outdoor whirlpool with massaging jets; a hot tub (from the Jacuzzi family, who began making propellers for aircraft; OED says earliest use of word for bath product was 1966)

That big Jacuzzi filled the room—

From north to south to east to west.

Who knew that it would spell the doom

For that sweet pair we loved the best?

One night—perhaps a bit much booze?—

They fell into the pool so late.

They simply sank—their final snooze.

Both wet and warm—oh, such is fate!

Namely, 18

NAMELY

EP-oh-nimz

a word based on or derived from a person's name.

First Known Use: mid-19^th century

“What’s in a Name?”

Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, 2.2­­

 18: guy: an informal word for an unnamed male person; used in a plural form (guys) to refer to a group of people (including females) (from Guy Fawkes (1570–1606)—he of the failed “Gunpowder Plot” (1605); first known use of word—1806)

He seemed an unassuming guy—

But Parliament, just blown sky-high?

The plot was foiled, and Guy was caught

And got to know the hangman’s knot.

Then drawn and quartered (after rope)—

Survival? Ha! There was no hope.

But now, of course, we celebrate

That distant, very deadly date.

Yes, Guy Fawkes Day—November 5.

(Just two months later? Not alive.)

And when our son now calls us “guys,”

Is there explosion in his eyes?

Or just a common sort of term?

No hanging man in Final Squirm?

Namely, 17

NAMELY

EP-oh-nimz

a word based on or derived from a person's name.

First Known Use: mid-19^th century

“What’s in a Name?”

Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, 2.2­­

17: guppy: a small type of fish that breeds quickly and comes in many colors; they are often kept in fish bowls and aquariums (from R. J. L. Guppy, 1836–1916, British-born naturalist; much work in Trinidad, where he discovered the fish that would bear his name; first known use—1925)

For his Christmas he wanted a puppy, but, Yo,

It just seems they misheard, bought a guppy, and so

He just wept and he wept till he had not a tear—

What an unpleasant way to bring in the New Year!

Namely, 16

NAMELY

EP-oh-nimz

a word based on or derived from a person's name.

First Known Use: mid-19^th century

“What’s in a Name?”

Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, 2.2­­

16: graham cracker: a light, square-shaped baked cookie that is often today sweetened with honey (from Sylvester Graham, 1794–1851, American dietary reformer; graham flour differs from whole wheat only in this: the former is not sifted during milling and is more coarse in its grind; first known use of word—1834)

I loved those crackers as a kid—

Could eat whole packages, in fact.

And so, of course, I often did—

And later would regret the act—

Oh, not because of failing health—

And not because they irritate.

And not because I lacked the stealth

To sneak them. No, increasing weight

Convinced me (oh, that tightening belt!)

That I should give the grahams a rest

And try to get a bit more svelte—

For pounds had grown too … manifest.

Namely, 15

NAMELY

EP-oh-nimz

a word based on or derived from a person's name.

First Known Use: mid-19^th century

“What’s in a Name?”

Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, 2.2­­

15: Ferris wheel: an amusement park ride consisting of a giant vertical wheel that revolves slowly as riders sit in passenger cars suspended on its outer edge (from George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr., 1859–96, American engineer; first use of word 1892; he created the 1^st wheel for the World’s Columbia’s Exposition in Chicago, 1893)

A took a ride—a Ferris wheel—

When I was just a kid.

And I regretted—very soon—

This action that I did.

When that wheel stopped, I was on top, 

And while I sat and swayed,

I wished that I had not been born—

Or back at home had stayed.

I couldn’t really cry, of course,

But, oh, I wanted to!

For I had failed my Manhood Test—

So what could I then do?

I’ve never ridden one again—

It’s not that I’m afraid.

Well … sure I am. No question. I’d

Prefer a hand grenade.

Namely, 14

NAMELY

EP-oh-nimz

a word based on or derived from a person's name.

First Known Use: mid-19^th century

“What’s in a Name?”

Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, 2.2­­

14: Fahrenheit: a temperature scale in which the boiling point of water (212°F) and freezing point (32° F) are 180 degrees apart (today used mainly in the USA) (from Daniel G. Fahrenheit, 1686–1736, Dutch-German-Polish physicist; invented mercury-in-glass thermometer & established the temperature scale that bears his name; first use of word—1753)

Recall that Ray Bradbury first wrote the tale

Known as Fahrenheit 451.*

And it told of a time in the future when books

Were all banned—yes, that’s ev-er-y one.

And so Bradbury needs to thank old Fahrenheit

For that scale he developed back when.

For without it, his title would be kind of dull—

Can’t imagine what it could have been!

*say “four-fifty-one” to make the rhythm work!

Namely, 13

NAMELY

EP-oh-nimz

a word based on or derived from a person's name.

First Known Use: mid-19^th century

“What’s in a Name?”

Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, 2.2­­

13: diesel: a compression-ignition engine that burns fuel on the inside by forcing into a small space and then injecting fuel into it; the air heats up and ignites the fuel without a spark plug; diesel engines are used for heavy vehicles, such as trucks, trains and submarines; diesel is also a low-grade petroleum for fuelling a diesel engine. (From Rudolph Diesel, 1858–1913, German mechanical engineer who invented the engine now named for him; first use of word—1894)

Oh no, this word came not from Vin,

That actor in those car-chase flicks

(How many are there? More than six?)

But from one of those German men

So clever is the ways of things—

The science and technology—

The ways machines can set us free—

Oh wondrous what invention brings!

He could not have foreseen our day—

When trucks now rule the Interstates

And generate some keen debates

About a road, a right-of-way.

But nonetheless he changed the world—

Just take a drive and you will see—

The total trucks? Infinity!

Oh, what a future he unfurled!

Namely, 12

NAMELY

EP-oh-nimz

a word based on or derived from a person's name.

First Known Use: mid-19^th century

“What’s in a Name?”

Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, 2.2­­

12: derby: a sporting event involving horse-racing, usually with young horses; some other kind of race, for example bicycle derby (source: Edward Stanley, 12^th Earl of Derby, 1752–1834; started a horse race, planned at a dinner party in 1778; first use: 1796)

A race is now a “derby,” and

We have so many types of them

Throughout and all across our land.

And all if it we owe to him.

The Soap Box Derby was a race

I’d really hoped to give a try.

But I was clueless—brain lacked space

To build a racer—I know why:

My skills are far from practical—

I didn’t do so well in shop.

So, practically, I’m awfully dull—

My place is nowhere near the top!

Namely, 11

NAMELY

EP-oh-nimz

a word based on or derived from a person's name.

First Known Use: mid-19^th century

“What’s in a Name?”

Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, 2.2­­

11. chauvinist: a person with an exaggerated devotion towards a gender, person or group; a person with excessive patriotism (from Nicolas Chauvin, character in a play, La Concorde tricolore, 1831, a devoted follower of Napoleon; play written by Hippolyte Cogniard; first use 1851)

You call someone a chauvinist?

You just might get smacked on the wrist—

Or meet, up close, a human fist.

The word has broadened meaning now—

Applied to other things somehow,

Like maleness (which I disavow!).

I’d not known where this word was born—

Suspected France (I could have sworn).

Would this word fit, oh, Jason Bourne?

the Cogniard brothers

Namely, 10

NAMELY

EP-oh-nimz

a word based on or derived from a person's name.

First Known Use: mid-19^th century

“What’s in a Name?”

Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, 2.2

10: Celsius:  a temperature scale based on two fixed points with water freezing at 0°C (zero degrees Celsius) and boiling at 100°C. It is used in temperatures for weather, cooking, and so on in most countries (from Anders Celsius, 1701–1744, Swedish astronomer, physicist, and mathematician; came up with the measurement in 1742; first use of word around 1850)

So I learned about Celsius back in the day—

In my high school, I think: science class.

But it hasn’t held fast—I’ve forgotten so much—

So I wonder: Did I even pass?

Well, it must not be hard, for all over the world

Almost everyone uses that temp.

So I guess you could say—if you’re honest, of course—
That perhaps I am sort of a wimp?

Namely, 9

NAMELY

EP-oh-nimz

a word based on or derived from a person's name.

First Known Use: mid-19^th century

“What’s in a Name?”

Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, 2.2

9: Casanova: a man who easily charms and seduces women; a womanizer (source: Giovanni Giascomo, 1725-1798, Italian adventurer and memoirist)

A Casanova he was not—

He wasn’t really all that hot,

Despite the fancy clothes he bought.

But still he tried—and still he failed.

His ugly ways were what prevailed.

And soon enough—well, he was jailed.

And just as well (’tween me and you),

For what he did, he shouldn’t do—

Had he not heard of #MeToo!?!

Namely, 8

NAMELY

EP-oh-nimz

a word based on or derived from a person's name.

First Known Use: mid-19^th century

“What’s in a Name?”

Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, 2.2

8: cardigan: a jacket-like, woolen sweater that opens at the front and may have buttons that are often left undone (source: James Thomas Brudenell, 7^th Earl of Cardigan, 1797–1868; English soldier; led the Charge of the Light Brigade, 25 October 1854; first use 1862)

He led that fabled Light Brigade*

That Tennyson would celebrate.

He swung his sharpened, famous blade—

Survived to die some other date.

But now we know him mostly for

Those sweaters that those old guys** wear.

Forgotten now is all that gore—

The cannon fire, swords swung in air!

*link to "The Charge of the Light Brigade"
**like me

Namely, 7

NAMELY

EP-oh-nimz

a word based on or derived from a person's name.

First Known Use: mid-19^th century

“What’s in a Name?”

Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, 2.2

7: Caesar salad: a salad made with romaine lettuce and croutons, with dressing usually made from olive oil, garlic, raw egg and Parmesan cheese (from American restaurateur, Caesar Cardini, 1896–1956; word appeared for the first time in 1946)

The Ides of March. And Caesar felt

He needed salad, Yo.

He ordered Caesar salad, but

He wanted it to go.

The cook said, “Never heard of it!”

And Caesar had a fit.

“Invent it then!” he cried in rage.

“And don’t be such a twit.”

The kitchen crew came out with knives—

They made short work of him.

Too bad, it seems, that history

Has so neglected them!

Namely, 6

NAMELY

EP-oh-nimz

a word based on or derived from a person's name.

First Known Use: mid-19^th century

“What’s in a Name?”

Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, 2.2

6: braille: a writing system comprising raised dots that represent letters. It allows blind or visually impaired people to read. (Louis Braille, 1809–52, himself blind since childhood, invented the system still in use today; first use of the word in 1853.)

She learned to read and write in Braille—

Determined she would never fail.

She mastered it—determined to

Succeed in what she wished to do.

She wrote some books—they were a hit.

(She never really bragged of it.)

An inspiration she’s become—

Her life’s become a vibrant drum

Whose beat excites all those who hear—

Its message, animating, clear.

Namely, 5

NAMELY

EP-oh-nimz

a word based on or derived from a person's name.

First Known Use: mid-19^th century

“What’s in a Name?”

Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, 2.2

5: boycott: the withdrawal of support, or the refusal to buy or use something, as a form of protest or activism; (also a verb). (From Charles C. Boycott, 1832–97, English land agent, who was ostracized by the Irish for refusing to reduce rents—from 1880)

I didn’t know this word had once

Been some dude’s actual name.

So I don’t think I’ll ever view

This word, well, quite the same.

For now I’ll always think about

That very stingy dude

Whose actions were supremely gross—

Oh, far much more than crude.

A warning then emerges from

The forming of this word:

Be careful what you do: Your name

Could otherwise be heard

Whenever people have some bad

Things that they want to say—

A future foul—forever cursed

In our most human way.