Namely, 87

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

87: macadam [muh-KADD-um]: a kind of asphalt (from John London McAdam, 1756–1836, the Scottish engineer who first proposed using compacted crushed stone as a road covering; first known use of the word, 1824)

“Macadam road—this must be safe—

So I’ll accelerate!”

He didn’t know this foolish move

Would hurry up his fate.

He gunned it up to 95–

And rocks flew far and wide.

He’d never thought that this would be

A day he might have died.

A possum then just wandered out

Into the very road

Where he was nearing warp-speed, Yo—

And next there came a toad.

He hit the brakes—a scary skid.

He stopped—and sighed relief.

The toad, the possum—both were safe.

He stared in disbelief.

He realized a scary thing—

Of this, there’s no debate—

For he, the possum, and the toad

Were at the Pearly Gate!