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?