Namely, 51

NAMELY

eponyms (EP-uh-nimz)

words 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

51: bloomers: women’s underpants (from Amelia Jenkins Bloomer, 1818–94, US social reformer and advocate of a new style of dress for women; first known use of word, 1851)

He wore some bloomers—not too wise—

For when his buds (the other guys)

Discovered his decision, they

Abandoned him—and cried “No way

That we can ever hang with you!

Sartorially, with you we’re through!”

And so he wept incessantly

Till tighty-whities set him free!

Namely, 50

NAMELY

eponyms (EP-uh-nimz)

words 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

50: billingsgate: vile profanity, cursing (from the Billingsgate fish market in London, near Billingsgate, one of the old gates of the city, an area known for the profanity of the vendors; first known use of word, 1652)

“I cannot stand this billingsgate!”

The teacher said to us.

“Our language is so beautiful—

So why do you all cuss?”

“We really don’t mean to be rude,”

I answered honestly.

“It’s just … things happen way too fast—

We need efficiency!”

“Well, I’ll be damned!” the teacher cried.

“You all have taught me well.

Now take your books out—yes, right now!

Or you can go to hell!”

Namely, 49

NAMELY

eponyms (EP-uh-nimz)

words 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

49: benedict: a newly married man, especially one who has long been a bachelor (from Benedick, a character in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, 1598–99; first known use, 1821)

If you have not read Much Ado,

Then some words won’t mean much to you—

Like benedict? You’d have no clue.

But once you’ve read that gifted Bard,

Then lots of things are not so hard—

He’s not a guy to disregard!

So … Benedick scorned marriage, see?

Till Beatrice—oh, such a she!—

Just claimed his heart—a victory!

Namely, 48

NAMELY

eponyms (EP-uh-nimz)

words 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

48: begonia: a cultivated flower with bright, waxy leaves and bunches of colorful flowers (from Michel Bégon, 1638–1710, the governor of the West Indies, who brought the flower to Great Britain in the 17^th century; first known use of word, 1751)

Begonias blossomed brightly there—

The garden shop right near the mall.

But I (to be completely fair)

Knew naught of flowers, not at all.

I roamed that shop I’ve spoken of

Because my wife had wished to go,

And since she owns all of my love,

I went along—though felt the woe

That comes when you would rather be,

Oh, anywhere but where you are.

But think: Domestic harmony

Must have a brimming reservoir.

If not, then love can die of thirst.

So … go along to flower shows,

For loveless lives? They are the worst,

As every loveless person knows.

Namely, 47

NAMELY

eponyms (EP-uh-nimz)

words 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

47: mnemonic: assisting or intended to assist memory; of or relating to memory (from Mnemosyne, mother of the muses and goddess of memory; first known use of word, 1672)

The other day I lost this word—

It flew away—a startled bird.

It also kind of tickled me—

Forgot a word ’bout memory!

But then the word came winging back—

Forgetting is a cul de sac:

A memory can loop back out—

The word comes home—oh, there’s no doubt.

And then you feel such pure relief:

Old age is not a total thief!

Namely, 46

NAMELY

eponyms (EP-uh-nimz)

words 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

46: bedlam: uproar and confusion (from Bethlehem, for the Hospital of Saint Mary of Bethlehem, an institution in London for the mentally ill; first known use of word, 1522)

’Twas total bedlam in the house

When we encountered Mickey Mouse.

He’d come, he said, to find his friend—

The goofy one, who could contend

Will all of life’s perplexity

By being … goofy (works for me).

We hadn’t seen that goofy guy,

So worried Mickey said, “Good-bye!”

And we felt fortunate that day—

We’d met celebs before, I’ll say.

But this one? Oh, just quite a chap.

Too late we heard the mousetrap snap!

Namely, 45

NAMELY

eponyms (EP-uh-nimz)

words 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

45: axel: a jump with one and a half turns in figure skating (from Axel Paulsen, 1856–1938, Norwegian figure skater who developed the maneuver; earliest known use of word, 1930)

A triple axel—thought I’d try.

I didn’t hit it—thought I’d die.

A fate I couldn’t manufacture:

No triple axel—triple fracture.

Namely, 44

NAMELY

eponyms (EP-uh-nimz)

words 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

44: argyle: a pattern of knitting based on a series of interlocking diamond shapes (from a former county in western Scotland, Argyll, where the Campbell family with the argyle tartan lived; first known use of word, 1890).

To prom he wore his argyle socks—

And he created quite a stir.

It seems that both the nerds and jocks—

And every other him and her—

Were devastated by his fashion choice—

Oh, it wasn’t really apropos.

And so they cried—in single voice—

“You can’t be here! You’ve got to go!”

And so he went—quite happily.

He didn’t really like to dance.

So home he went, threw out his tux,

And donned again his pj pants.

County Argyll

Namely, 43

NAMELY

eponyms (EP-uh-nimz)

words 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

43: ammonia: a pungent nitrogen-based gas or liquid used widely as a household cleaning agent (from the an Egyptian god Amun; the nearby Ammonians used it in rituals; material found near Amun’s temple at the Sita oasis, where it was extracted; first known use of word, 1788)

He sniffed too much ammonia—

Not really smart to do.

They called a crew—yes, EMS—

Who found him looking blue.

They reached the (very close) ER,

Where doctors worked to save

His sniffing self from tragedy—

And hoped he would behave

When they released him later on—

“Don’t be so dumb!” they said.

“For doctors can’t resuscitate

When you arrive here dead!”

Amun

Namely, 42

NAMELY

eponyms (EP-uh-nimz)

words 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

42: Ponzi scheme: an investment swindle in which some early investors are paid off with money put up by later ones in order to encourage more and bigger risks (from Charles Ponzi, 1882–1949, Italian-American swindler; first known use of word, 1920)

He fell—hard!—for a Ponzi scheme

And lost the savings of his life.

He tried to tell his trusting wife—

But she seemed in some pleasant dream

And didn’t seem to hear a word

That he had said. And then she spoke:

“I know you’ll think this is a joke,

But guess what I have just now heard?

“We sell our house—invest the dough

And get such huge returns! So great!

Now I don’t want to hear debate:

I’ve sold the house, and soon you’ll know

That we are rich beyond our hopes!”

And that was it—pure paupers now.

They’d lost it all, from stern to prow.

Then wrote a book: The Hopes of Dopes.

And sold a zillion copies, Yo.

They’ve now retired in Malibu

And live as royals often do.

They stare out in the ocean, though,

And think of ways they could invest

The fortune that they have amassed.

They think that it would be a blast.

But later? Broke and dispossessed.

Namely, 41

NAMELY

eponyms (EP-uh-nimz)

words 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

41: Zamboni: an electric-powered machine (with a driver) that resurfaces ice on an ice-rink by shaving it, clearing and flooding it (from Frank Zamboni, 1901–88, inventor of the device in 1949)

We all could use Zambonis, see,

Because we grow a little rough.

Zambonis could smooth you and me

When mirrors say, “You’ve had enough!”

We’d lie down on our backs and wait

For the machine to roll on top.

Then we’d emerge, as fresh as fate—

And head off to the coffee shop.

Namely, 40

NAMELY

eponyms (EP-uh-nimz)

words 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

40: wellingtons—wellies—British English: knee-length waterproof boots made of rubber or plastic (from Arthur Wellesley, 1^st Duke of Wellington, 1769–1852 (led the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo), who first wore and popularized them; first known use of word, 1816)

Napoleon had some time to think

In his captivity.

“I wonder what I could have done

To have a victory?

“It was a disappointment—yes,

Completely! Through and through!

I never should have lost that fight

That time at Waterloo!

“I bet I know the answer!” he

Then cried to moons and suns.

“I should have worn, I realize,

A pair of Wellingtons!”

Namely, 39

NAMELY

eponyms (EP-uh-nimz)

words 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

39: watt: a standard unit of power—abbreviation: W (from James Watt, 1736–1819, Scottish engineer known for steam engine; watt a term in his honor; first known use of word, 1882)

You gotta give it to James Watt—

We benefit from what he taught.

He harnessed power like a horse—

The steam engine was his, of course.

And so those steamboats chugged way—

And trains sped up (oh, what a day!)—

And human life then sped up, too.

I’m not sure that’s been good—are you?

Namely, 38

NAMELY

eponyms (EP-uh-nimz)

words 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

38: volt: a standard unit of electromotive force that drives current—abbreviation: V (from Alessandro Volta, 1745–1827, Italian physicist; invented electric battery; first known use of word, 1873)

You gotta watch out—volt is volt—

And bunches can give quite a jolt

If you behave like some dim dolt.

You’re standing in a puddle, Yo—

The lights are out—but you should know

(Unless, of course, you’re very slow)

That playing with the fuse box then

Is how to lose your famous grin

And go for an electric spin.

Namely, 37

NAMELY

eponyms (EP-uh-nimz)

words 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

37: teddy bear: a soft toy bear filled with stuffing (from Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, 1858–1919, from a cartoon depicting the president sparing the life of a bear cub while hunting; first known use of word, 1905)

So Teddy saved a cub one day—

And for that act we get to see

A Build-a-Bear where people may

Create a teddy (he or she)

And honor Teddy Roosevelt—

Although I wonder how he’d feel

If he were here. Would his heart melt

At Build-a-Bear? A bear—piecemeal!

Or would he wonder what he’d done—

An industry! A teddy bear!

Perhaps he’d think it harmless fun—

Or maybe he’d tear out his hair?

Namely, 36

NAMELY

eponyms (EP-uh-nimz)

words 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

36: silhouette: the outline of a dark shape on a light background; often the profile (side view) of a human face (from Étienne de Silhouette, 1709–67, French controller general of finances, perhaps from his ephemeral tenure; first known use of word, 1783)

I never look too hard (you bet!)

And my own swelling silhouette.

It’s sad enough to know it’s there—

It’s worse to look at it—or stare.

It’s better, as I’ve come to know,

To just pretend it’s not there—no!

To think, instead, the shape I’m in

Is ripped—and cut—and film-star thin!

Namely, 35

NAMELY

eponyms (EP-uh-nimz)

words 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

35: shrapnel: fragments of metal from a bomb or shell (from Henry Shrapnel, 1761–1842, English artillery officer who invented the deadly technique of bomb- and shell-making; first known use of word, 1806)

Since Shrapnel (Henry) came along,

War has not been the same:

His science sadly did increase

The ease to kill and maim.

We’ve really never stopped our search

For clever ways to kill.

Let’s hope the time is not far off

When—just perhaps?—we will?