Butter No Parsnips: Recent Episodes
Butter No Parsnips
Every week on Butter No Parsnips, your hosts Emily Moyers and Kyle Imperatore take you on an adventure through the weird, wacky, wonderful, and sometimes wicked history of one wayside word. Strange characters, delightful bits, and general joyousness abound, join them as they test each other's etymological expertise!
Emily and Kyle discuss the quality of what, this, that, and the other thing as they explore the confusing but useful word, quiddity.
Our hosts dive into the nitty gritties of metaphysics philosophy from both Ancient Greece and Medieval Europe. Reality starts to unravel as Kyle and Emily talk about the works of Aristotle, the essence of an individual, and the nature of being.
In addition to this word for the “whatness” of a thing, it turns out metaphysics philosophers have words for “thisness,” “thatness,” and more. And quiddity itself has plenty to effer as well, encompassing definitions for the quibbling, the quippy, and the quirky.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Kyle and Emily take a ride to the Aegean Sea and Ancient Greece, exploring the divine and danger-filled history of the word aegis.
Our hosts run through a number of uses for this word, encompassing not just a literal shield but figurative protection, guidance, support, and endorsement. Aegis may have come from some strange cross-section of goats and storms… But the real meat and potatoes of this episode lies in Greek mythology.
This humble shield (or goatskin? or lightning bolt?) has been used to protect Zeus, Athena, and more against terrible foes such as Medusa. But aegis still has some uses today, in everywhere from naval protection systems to the video game Hades.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
This episode goes out to anyone who’s calling out from work when they weren’t quite as sick as they implied, as this week Emily and Kyle chat all about the word malinger.
Emily starts by diving into this word’s French roots, which once described actual sickly people–and even, perhaps, the MOST sickly person. But this word came to be more associated with fake illness and injury–and not always just little white lies. Kyle learns about where malingering intersects with psychiatry, and the medical tests used to sort fact from fiction.
Our hosts then explore some real cases of falsified symptoms. Malingering has been used for some unsavory goals, such as attempts to use psychology to escape criminal justice. But there are also more positive examples where malingering has helped Jews escape the Holocaust or helped a transgender person transition.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Ever wondered if your name could influence your destiny? Kyle and Emily have, and this deep question brings them to the hilarious world of aptronyms.
In this episode, our hosts explore the inception of the aptronym and delve into the theory's deeper implications, touching on ideas from Carl Jung's Synchronicity, to concepts like nominative determinism and implicit egotism. The duo discusses famous examples like sprinter Usain Bolt and poet William Wordsworth, and how these “coincidences” might not be so coincidental after all.
From its humble origins in newspaper and magazine columns, to modern, large-scale scientific studies, Kyle and Emily chat about the birth of last names and the plethora of lists created by the noble comiconomenclaturists. Their conversation uncovers the intriguing intersection of surnames, irony, and Jungian psychology, allowing baby name suggestions to take on a whole new meaning.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
This week, Emily and Kyle thoroughly roast each other. But don’t worry; it’s all in good fun. And it’s the perfect segue to chatting about the Aussie and Kiwi slang word, borak!
Our hosts look at some of the many Aboriginal languages of Australia, most notably one from the Melbourne area called Wadawurrung. They talk about the impact that colonialism had on Australian languages, and the ways borat could be used to mean no, not, or nothing in both Wadawurrung, English, and everywhere in-between.
Exploring this word as it appears in newspaper articles and playful poems alike. Emily demonstrates how borak can also mean nonsense, chatter, or banter. Kyle also learns an everyday phrase using borak, a surprising connection to borax soap, and a few more boraks from around the world.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Our apologies on the lack of video this week, we made a mistake during recording and forgot to record video!
Kyle and Emily address a question that has haunted romantic partners for years--but this divisive worm conversation leads them to a much more fruitful discussion on the word fissiparous.
Lovers of zoology, biology, and even microbiology, this is the episode for you. Our hosts discuss everything from nuclear fission, to how cells clone themselves, to the regeneration of all those worms we split in half as children…We all did that, right?
Kyle also takes the opportunity to answer some vital questions about animals of the sea. Like, is it starfish or sea star? Will a whole starfish regrow from just a fragment? And what exactly defines a fish? That last one, it turns out, is a topic Emily’s been DYIN’ to cover.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Our apologies on the lack of video this week, we made a mistake during recording and forgot to record video!
Emily and Kyle square up for an Alexander Hamilton style duel, but trade their pistols for fencing swords as they discuss the meaning and origin of the word spadassinicide.
Our hosts begin by diving into the word spadassin, its history in French and Italian, and its relation to sword fighters. And, it turns out there’s a reason the word sounds so similar to assassin, although OG Assassin’s Creed fans might not be surprised to hear it.
A spadassin might be just a bully in the eyes of Victor Hugo, but can also be a swordsman for hire in the middle of a revolution! Our hosts discuss uses of spadassinicide in the context of a passionately-written history of the French Revolution, and in a novel called Scaramouche with some surprising twists and turns.
For reference, the woodblock print mentioned at in the episode can be seen here: https://artmuseum.princeton.edu/collections/objects/15512
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Watch out, because this week Kyle and Emily are flying the not-so-friendly skies! They explore WW2 history, RAF slang, and the versatile meanings of the word prang.
Kyle gives everyone a refresher on WWII, and the airborne showdown between UK’s Royal Air Force and Germany’s Air Force, the Luftwaffe. With the threat of an airplane crash ever looming, pilots of the time lightened the mood with niche slang and dubious honors.
But a pilot isn’t the only one who might appreciate this word. Emily learns several very different contexts where prang can show up. And this episode goes out with a bang, with a game inspired by a memorable Monty Python bit.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Emily and Kyle talk about the etiquette of entertaining, the traditions of travel, and the xenophilic history of xenial.
You might recognize this word from the FENIX Trophy acronym or from the city of Xenia, Ohio. But, in fact, xenial goes all the way back to Ancient Greece! Emily and Kyle learn about, how to be the best host and guest, the precise rules of Greek hospitality, and how this can make or break a friendship.
They also learn some pretty good reasons that you should be kind to the xenos, or stranger, at your door. For all you know, it could be one of the Greek gods, a Biblical angel, or a vengeful sorceress in disguise. If you don’t believe it, just give Beauty and the Beast another look!
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
On the hunt for some fun facts to bring to the office? Search no more, because this week, Kyle and Emily bring you the longest non-technical word you’ll find in a dictionary: floccinaucinihilipilification.
Our hosts begin by exploring a few fancy British boarding schools and their history. They talk about the life of an average schoolboy of Eton College. And Kyle reveals that these boys, knee deep in Latin studies and boring school textbooks, are the ones who gave us this Eton Mess of a word.
Floccinaucinihilipilification might seem like a senseless jumble of letters. But Emily gets a better hold on this word as she learns to break it into parts. This massive word for “nothing” actually connects to roots for wool, nut shell, nihilism, and even hair!
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Emily and Kyle are joined by science communicator, worm-enthusiast, and SciShow Tangents co-host Ceri Riley. Together they look at the science of randomness, as they explore the tricky yet versatile word stochastic.
The trio looks at this word’s older uses in Greek and Latin, particularly by a few well-known mathematicians bearing the name Bernoulli. But they also discover this word’s travel through the German language, and the major impacts Germany had on the math world.
Emily then turns their attention to the study of statistics. Ceri teaches our hosts about how nature is way better at being random than humans are, and about the role of probability in biology. To cap things off they look at some paradoxes of probability, and Kyle learns whether gambling his fortune on a game of chance is a good idea.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
It’s the 100th episode of Butter No Parsnips and what better way to celebrate than poring over the sacred Lexiconicon while Seth has his back turned. And that’s just what Emily and Kyle did when, in the middle of their secretive studies, they found the notably numerable word ‘centiloquium.’
In order to get his ancient text back, Seth must first learn all of that which Kyle and Emily discovered while delving deep into the tome. The trio discover that no one from Ptolemy to Trismegistus wants to write down a hundred of anything. They also revel in the mysteries of the stars as horoscopes find a friend in something a little more timely called ‘horary’.
After all is said and done, all that’s important is that you don’t trust anyone peddling Occam’s centiloquy, especially “that juggling Wizard and Imposter” William Lilly. Take an astrological trip with these wordnik weirdos for the hundredth time, and discover what the stars have in store for the next hundred.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Kyle and Emily are joined by Alex Corigliano, co-host of the podcast dedicated to the New York Mets, the Mets Legends Cast. Emily takes everyone out to the ball game to chat about the meaning and origin of the word fungo.
Our intrepid explorers begin with a quick dive into the origins of baseball. They review some English games like cricket, and Emily shatters some long-held beliefs about the first ever baseball game. But then she gets into the real meat of the episode: a practice drill seen everywhere from Little League to professional baseball life.
The conversation wends its way through baseball practice of today and yesteryear, how best to throw and catch a fly ball, and what a baseball bat has in common with a common fungus. And before the episode is through, Kyle and Alex discover the unexpectedly sporty origins of some everyday phrases.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Emily and Kyle go back to school and chat with author, purveyor of grammar and writing tips, and host of the Grammar Bee at your next corporate event, Ellen Jovin!
Jovin talks about her passion for language–going all the way back to sentence diagramming in her school days, and continuing into co-founding a company teaching courses in writing and speech in the corporate sphere. That passion reaches its fullest potential in Jovin’s Grammar Table, which she takes across the nation to field grammar questions on the street.
Jovin tells stories of people’s personal connections to language, half-remembered lessons from their English class teachers, heated conflicts over punctuation and semantics, and the many differing standards among writers. Lastly, Jovin tests Kyle and Emily’s knowledge of English grammar with her twist on a spelling bee.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Kyle and Emily jump from modern song writing to classical composing, as they explore the distinctly musical word appoggiatura.
They talk about appoggiatura’s roots in Italian and beyond. Its meaning was originally related to ‘support,’ but the word later came to be associated with embellishments in classical music. Kyle tells Emily about the techniques of Baroque musicians like Bach and Handel.
Kyle discusses the many ornamentations common in this era of music, and uses the iconic Happy Birthday song to demonstrate how appoggiaturas create suspense. But Emily also discovers the trouble this little note can cause, in sheet music notation and in the relationship between singer and composer.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
The main theme was written by Ronnie Gross Jr , pre-save his new album 'Emotional Boy' by visiting @RonnieGrossJr.
The accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
What might Eloise Bridgerton and Eloise at the Plaza have in common? Aside from a name, Emily and Kyle learn that both can be described by this week’s word, hoyden!
Our hosts discuss the many theories surrounding this word: a Dutch origin, a connection to pagan heathens and unkempt heaths, and even a religious connotation. Emily talks about the history of “hoity-toity,” while Kyle tells us why we should all be “flebbin’ with the boys.”
Returning to hoyden, our hosts delve into exactly why this is a word for tomboy girls and rowdy women. They talk about snobs telling rebel women to watch their manners, and some female characters with distinctly on-the-nose names.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
This week, our hosts chat about families of all kinds--biological and marital, real and mythical, loving and… strained, as they explore the history of the word privign.
Kyle reveals some little-known Latin words that came before modern words like “stepson” and “stepdaughter.” He talks about how these step- words became common, and what a “stepmom” or “stepdad” might have once meant. But to show us the history of privign, he treats Emily to a bit of theatre!
They look at something called a masque, which is something between a musical and a pantomime. Their theater trip takes Kyle and Emily through some classic Greek mythology, some drama between playwrights, and a surprising connection between Hercules and the Milky Way.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
This week, Emily stumps Kyle with a word whose spelling and pronunciation defy all expectations… umquhile.
Emily reveals umquhile’s many definitions, including everything from “late” to “sometimes” to “eventually.” She keeps Kyle in suspense about the word’s spelling for a while, starting with a dive into the um- prefix and its use in British mythology.
After a brief quest with a knight from King Arthur’s court, and several former synonyms for “surround,” at last the question of umquhile’s pronunciation is addressed. This leads our hosts to discuss linguistics, Scottish history, and the American Southern drawl.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Kyle and Emily trek around the world, and through the wetlands, as they wade into the history of the word vlei.
Our hosts begin with this word’s journey through valleys in the Netherlands and swamps in South Africa. They talk about some of the impacts of Dutch colonialism, and the formation of the South African language Afrikaans.
Kyle spins beautiful tales about places where there’s a lake for half the year and a desert the other half. But his stories don’t only cover the geography of Africa. Kyle also takes Emily across the sea to New York, discussing some Dutch influence in the Hudson Valley and beyond.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Emily takes Kyle from the ocean to the sky this week with the seafaring (and spacefaring) word dunsel.
With three potential etymologies, the duo takes a brief stay in a Dutch origin before expanding ever outward to those glorious and historical ships of yore, paintings of which have left viewers with eternal questions such as, “What do all those sails even do?” Which lead to completely indecipherable answers like “main’sle” and “top’sle” and “foc’s’le”, and more still.
Ever upward, Emily takes to the stars with a surprisingly science fiction origin. We get television writing, we get Ray Bradbury, heck, we even get Emily doing one of the best known Spock impressions ever done in the history of podcasting. From nautical to Nemoy, this word is an enormously adventurous one for how it’s defined
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Kyle grabs the doorknob with his tongue this week to let Emily into the world of the word fomite.
And if you’re still around after reading that sentence, then you’ll have no fear of what follows as Kyle decides to plunge us all head first into the subject of disease transmission. Not before, of course, introducing us to that household name Girolamo Fracastoro who was among the first to fathom the concept of transmission in any modern way.
Fomite brings us from atomism to the early days of germ theory to the recent pandemic (or epidemic for the more colloquial type). And while you might hope the disease talk is over, Kyle makes sure Emily is good and ill by the time he’s wrapping up by touching on infections, syphilis, and worst of all, back-formations.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Kyle and Emily are taken on another journey through some misused and abused punctuation—this time with a particularly Y2K bent. They sit down with the founder of the “Blog” of “Unnecessary” Quotation Marks Bethany Keeley-Jonker to discuss blogging, the internet of the aughts, and quotation marks used for emphasis(?)
From the quilt of niche blogs stitched together with subjects such as the use of lower-L’s in all caps text to those websites which still have a place in our dial-up hearts, the 00’s gave us some of the most earnest fun you could find on the still fairly nascent World Wide Web.
Keeley-Jonker also presents some theories as to where these blogs have gone, social media’s role in it all, and most importantly, why people still use quotations marks that way! So join the Butter’d gang again on yet another superscript adventure!
This is a special look at the Patreon exclusive podcast Butter’d Parsnips available on our Patreon at www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips. For just $5 a month, you gain access to our entire backlog as well as a bunch of other fun perks.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Emily calls out to Kyle like a songbird this week to introduce him to the amply avian word roup.
Soaring through the word’s Scottish and English uses, Emily shows Kyle the “roups”. From those simple nothing phrases upon which we force alliteration to roup’s somewhat mysterious origins, Kyle discovers just what kind of grave difference the definite article can make.
Emily takes us briefly down memory lane revealing another of roup’s definitions to be synonymous with a word covered early in Butter No Parsnips’ history. And inviting us all to listen as Kyle reveals an alarming knowledge of Storage Wars, Emily introduces us to the relationship between this seemingly unheard of word and the world of auctions.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
This week, Kyle and Emily sit down with renowned psycholinguist Jean Berko Gleason to talk about wugs, wuggies, zibmen, and what they mean for child psychology.
They discuss the Wug Test, and what it can tell us about how a child, toddler, or even baby progresses in language development. They talk about what this test has meant for early childhood education and our understanding of early learning and child development.
But this episode isn’t all about baby talk and learning English. They also talk about the psychology of language learning and native versus non native languages. And, of course, it wouldn’t be Butter No Parsnips if we didn’t chat about etymology and linguistics.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Emily and Kyle answer the biggest questions of the cosmos, as they discuss the meaning and origin of the word ylem.
Our hosts talk about how this word relates to matter and the elements, both in the works of Aristotle and other ancient thinkers, and in the Periodic Table. They chat about some quirks of grammar and pronunciation, but then they dig into the real cosmic center of this episode.
Always excited to talk astronomy, Emily and Kyle head back to the earliest thoughts on the Big Bang. Long before Stephen Hawking contributed to the Big Bang Theory, there was Lemaitre and Hubble and several others. And ylem, it turns out, might just have been the most important substance in the creation of the universe.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Pack your bags and grab some snacks, because this week Kyle and Emily are going on a literal road trip through the meaning and origin of the word macadam.
This eponym leads our hosts back to the life of one John McAdam, a man involved with Long Island history, the American Revolution, the Scottish highway system, and most of all civil engineering. Kyle and Emily reveal how McAdam paved the way (pun intended) for modern asphalt.
They discuss McAdam’s major innovations in road building, such as using a camber, decreasing the need for maintenance, making a smooth ride for the increasing number of carriages on the road. Kyle tells Emily about how the name McAdam became synonymous with well laid roads, and can even still be seen on the airport tarmac.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Looking for some gift ideas to say thank you to your delivery person? You’re in luck, cause this week Emily and Kyle are discussing the meaning and origin of the word cumshaw.
Our hosts spend some time getting to know Hokkien, a Chinese language variety from the area around Xiamen. They chat about what makes this variety different from others like Mandarin and Cantonese, and its beginnings as a trade language in the South China Sea.
They then dive into how this Chinese word of thanks came to English through a sailing context. Emily and Kyle dive into the history of trade in Chinese ports like Guangzhou. They discuss the importance of giving your ship captain a little gift, especially if they’re carrying something less than legal. And they also mention this word’s more modern usage in the U.S. Navy!
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
In this episode, Kyle and Emily discuss the meaning and origin of the word jactitation. No cap. …Okay, maybe a little cap.
They talk about the roots of this word, how it evolved from meanings like throw or scatter, to meanings like boast or brag. And this leads them to a fascinating dive into the history of the letter J, and its relation to the letter I. But the real meat and potatoes of this episode is a look at some of history’s greatest show-offs.
Kyle tells us about a saint who defeated the devil with a horseshoe, as well as a church whose monks may have stretched the truth a bit. And Emily delights in the story of a woman who is perhaps history’s greatest jactitator. This coquette’s thrilling life included a not so lucky marriage, a suspect title of duchess, and a possible brush with the Pope.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Gather ‘round y’all, because this week Kyle and Emily are chatting with Bob McCalden, Chairman of the Apostrophe Protection Society.
Our hosts talk with McCalden about how to write with this oft-misused piece of punctuation correctly. They discuss the apostrophe in possessives and contractions, as well as some more elusive cases of English grammar. McCalden also shares his thoughts on some other places the apostrophe turns up, like social media, brand names, and Irish surnames.
The trio talk about how grammar evolves over time, cases where correctness is perhaps not as important, and cases where it’s very important indeed. McCalden’s discussion on why the apostrophe matters is valuable for those learning English, those teaching English, or any writers who want to make sure their writing hits home.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
Special thanks to Bethany Keeley-Jonker of unnecessaryquotes.com for her contribution to this episode. To hear an extended interview with Keeley-Jonker about her blog and the Y2K internet, support us on Patreon at Patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Take a trip through the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of censorship, as Emily and Kyle discuss the meaning and origin of the word bowdlerize.
They begin by talking about the family name from which this word derives. That takes them on a deep dive into a time which was very concerned with being family-friendly. Our hosts talk about the Regency and Victorian eras, when modesty and morality were of the utmost importance.
Our hosts (and producer) also perform a bit of theatre, taking a look at a famously censored edition of Shakepeare. They read bowdlerized quotes from Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Macbeth. Emily and Kyle also bring this word to the modern era, talking about their experiences with banned books in libraries.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Take a load off and put your cares aside, because today Kyle and Emily are talking about the meaning and origin of the word cark.
Our hosts dig into some etymology and talk about cark’s roots in French, Latin, and more. They talk about the many meanings and pronunciations this little word has traveled through, varying from physical weight or labor to mental stress or worry.
They also talk about the many modern words cark is related to, like car and charge and cargo. Kyle introduces us to some (apparently) oft-used phrases like “cark and care” and “toil and moil.” But Emily takes particular joy in cark’s modern usage in Australian slang.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Poetry lovers are either gonna love or hate this one, because Seth takes Kyle and Emily on a journey through the meaning and origin of the word flarf.
Our hosts travel back to the early 00s internet, and see the emergence of a rather avant garde form of poetry. They read a poem or two from this new genre, talk about how Google plays into their creation, and discuss the divisive impact these poems had on the larger poetry community.
But flarf also leads our hosts into asking the BIG questions. What really is art? What makes good or bad writing? Does the author matter? They also link flarf poetry to other works of modernism and surrealism, and see how it contrasts to more process oriented writing.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
Special thanks to Grogan Ardizzoni (@heygrogan) for their vocal talents.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Additional music:
Title: Happy Happy Game ShowMusic: Kevin MacLeodLicense: CC BY 3.0 (http://goo.gl/BlcHZR)Download: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
This week, Emily and Kyle discuss the meaning and origin of the word accismus. They’re too polite to say it themselves, but really they’d love for you to listen.
Our hosts dive into the Ancient Greek arts of speech and rhetoric. They look at the origin of irony, and a classic comedic scene between Hercules and one of the Greek gods. And they look at that most polite form of irony, saying ‘no thank you’ when you really want to give an emphatic ‘yes please.’
They also bring you a host of examples through history, literature, and myth. They talk about a possible tradition upon being named bishop in the Churck of England, a Shakespeare quote about Caesar nearly taking modesty too far, and even an Aesop fable about sour grapes.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Get ready for a sinfully good episode that is sure to get you out of a bad mood, because Kyle and Emily are discussing the meaning and origin of the word peccant.
They talk about this word’s first appearances in texts from Ancient Greece. They explore its meanings from wicked to corrupt to unhealthy, as well as its connection to another modern word. But the bulk of our hosts’ conversation this week is about humor.
Why are the four humors called humors? How much did Aristotle understand the diseases of the human body? Does your blood affect whether you’re in a good mood or feeling melancholy? And could everybody benefit from a little menstruation? All will be answered!
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
We hope you’re ready to start the revolution, because Emily and Kyle are talking about the meaning and origin of the word agitprop.
Our hosts explore the role agitation and propaganda played in Russia during the rise of communism. They trace the paths of these words through Latin, English, and Russian, then explore the ways the Soviet Union propagated its ideals. They take a look at some communist poster design with that iconic 1984 look, and some dubious theater from Bertolt Brecht.
But this word doesn’t end with Soviet Russia. Emily and Kyle also chat about its modern use, with both propaganda and activism. They discuss how “agit” can be used to describe punk art and rebellious music, and how it also has a hidden meaning in Korean.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Get ready for some hot goss’ and buxom gals, because this week Kyle and Emily are discussing the meaning and origin of the word zaftig.
The hosts delve into the history of Jewish immigrants and their languages in New York City and beyond. They look at some Yiddish words which have made their way into English, and they trace how zaftig evolved from describing fat, juicy melons to describing… Well, the definition didn’t travel far.
The duo also leaf through some classic New York celebrity gossip, straight from the first ever tabloid magazine. Surprise to no one, tabloids have been problematic from the beginning. This one had everything from lewd comments about actresses, to outing of queer celebrities, to blackmail of Broadway producers!
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
This one goes out to all the IT guys, all the nerd dads, and anyone else who likes to hack, cause today Emily and Kyle are talking about the meaning and origin of the tech word mung.
Our hosts skim through a bit of Old English, and the many connections mung has to other modern words. But then they quickly get down to what this episode is all about: acronyms and information technology.
Emily and Kyle talk about how an MIT club became a haven for hacking and computer technology, how mung came to refer to making a mess of things, some little-known acronyms like SCUBA and PATRIOT, and what the Ts in TINT stand for.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
This week, the sun, moon, and planet earth all come into conjunction as Kyle and Emily talk about the meaning and origin of the word syzygy.
This word lies where stars and planets align, thus it delves our hosts into some fascinating astronomy. They chat about the movements of celestial bodies, what causes an eclipse or a full moon, and exactly how much the Greek astronomers knew.
Speaking of the Greeks, Kyle and Emily also discuss a little astrología, or (in English) astrology. Turns out it doesn’t just involve your horoscope, but also the great works of Ptolomy, doomsday predictions, and something called the Letter of Toledo.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Emily and Kyle take a break from Duolingo to talk about language learning with an expert on the subject: polyglot, journalist, and author of language books Babel and Lingo, Gaston Dorren.
Our hosts chat with their multilingual guest about his linguistic travels from his native Limburgish and Dutch, to other European languages, and beyond. Dorren talks about what makes learning languages challenging, as well as what makes it so interesting and rewarding. And the three speculate on what the future of language could look like.
Dorren also discusses how English is somewhat unique among global languages, and why so many Americans are monolingual. Turns out Kyle and Emily might have a leg up on becoming bilingual! Though, they still can’t get the hang of pronouncing Dorren’s book title…
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Kyle and Emily take a cup o’ kindness for the sake of auld lang syne, and talk all about Hogmanay, i.e. New Year’s in Scotland.
Turns out the Scottish new year looks considerably different than what Kyle and Emily are used to. They take a look at midnight visitors and gifts, a pagan tradition from the Scottish highlands, why the town of Stonehaven is all aflame on New Year’s Eve, and why the people of Edinburgh are wet and freezing on New Year’s Day.
They also chat about how the Scottish holiday season differs from in the US, and how Times Square is not the only place that drops something special on NYE. Happy New Year, and we hope you’re enjoying your Daft Days!
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
It’s that time of year again, and Seth, Kyle, and Emily are celebrating the merriest of holidays. Is it Christmas, you ask? No, of course not! It’s Chump!!
Chump is a beautiful holiday, in which we indulge in some linguistic nostalgia and some delightful wordplay. But of course the most important Chump tradition is party games! After all, what holiday party would be complete without a little competition?
Kyle rounds out our little celebration by singing a song that may sound familiar… if you swap out a noun or two, that is. Just our little way of wishing all of you, dear listeners, Happy Holidays and Merry Chump!
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
This week, Kyle and Emily leave their manners a little on the left hand as they’re joined by the author of Green’s Dictionary of Slang and foremost slang lexicographer Jonathon Green.
Our hosts get at the heart of what it takes to compile such an impressive collection of slang words. They delight in Green’s exaltation of the Captain of slang himself, Francis Grose, author of the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, while taking jabs at that stickler Samuel Johnson, and the phony John Bee.
Just what is slang? Where does slang stop and a dictionary begin? What separates the work Green does from that of the ever popular resource for inane internet jargon Urban Dictionary? All these questions and more are answered in this jaunt through some truly wayside–if not offside–words.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
This week, Kyle and Emily peek over the fence to get a glimpse at both the neighbor’s yard and the meaning and origin of the word stickybeak.
This delightful portmanteau prompts us to stick our nose into some Australian rhyming slang, sniff around at some 20th century poetry, and even peep into Holinshed’s Chronicles.
But this nosy word also made our hosts curious about the connection between a busybody and a beak. We search through the etymology of smell and snoop and even Snoopy! Turns out birds are all over the place!
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
This week, Emily and Kyle open the Sunday newspaper, turn to the funnies page, and read all about the meaning and origin of the word grawlix.
They talk about how this cartoon cursing word was coined by the cartoonist behind Beetle Bailey, who quite literally wrote the book on cartoon art. But these swearing scribbles have been in comics a lot longer than the word, as revealed by a comic strip from all the way back to 1901!
But grawlix isn’t the only comic related word on the agenda today. Our hosts discuss yet another term for subtle profanity, as well as several other fantastically silly words for the symbols in a comic.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Better brush up on your manners, because this week Kyle and Emily are talking about the meaning and origin of the word punctilio.
The pair discuss Latin origins, petty details, and all things strict and proper as they explore this word’s history. Digging into its usage over time, they unearth stories about 16th century satire, the Italian book of etiquette “Il Gataleo,” and that book’s surprising connection to King Arthur.
They also talk about the personal code of conduct to which US president George Washington held himself--and use his rules as a jumping-off point to discuss other words related to punctilio.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Emily and Kyle talk to Joshua Blackburn, founder of Two Brothers Games and creator of the quiz game about words and language League of the Lexicon.
Listen along as Joshua shares with them the intricacies of what it took to put together one of the most successful word games in Kickstarter history. From the many collaborators, including a previous guest on this show, to the ornate design, to why simplicity is best in a word game that covers it all.
Kyle and Emily are then joined by Seth as Joshua puts the three hosts to task in a high stakes play-through of the game where only one can reign supreme.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Get ready for an episode that really rocks! And it’s ’cause we’re talkin’ about rocks! This week, Emily and Kyle explore the meaning and origin of the word menhir.
They begin by discussing this word’s origin in one of the Celtic languages, like Breton, Cornish, or Welsh, as well as skimming through a bit of Celtic history. Then they take a look at other prehistoric stone monuments akin to the menhir: the stone circle, dolmen, and cairn among them.
They talk about famous megaliths and monoliths, like Stonehenge, the Moai (better known as the Easter Island statues), and several others. And lastly, they speculate on why some ancient standing stones might’ve been stood up in the first place.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Kyle and Emily are joined this week by musician and host of the podcast Coffee Clutch with Ron and Jill, Ronnie Gross, as Kyle shares the cinematic origins of the word greeble.
From model-making to the silver screen, Kyle takes his companions through the history of one teeny-tiny part of the massive space opera Star Wars, missing no opportunity to flaunt his George Lucas impression.
But it’s not just that one space epic, from Star Trek to 2001: A Space Odyssey, greebles pervade the sci-fi realm and even some fantasy. Though, Ronnie has some notes on the sound of the word.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
This Halloween, Kyle and Emily discover that following a mishap in the lab, Seth has raised ghost words back from the dead using that most lugubrious ledger, the Lexiconicon!
Follow the gang as they meet these etymologically dubious terms which weave them through dictionary history and echo the names of such famous friends as the scholar Cicero, the founder of the OED James Murray, and the woefully wet writer Walter Scott.
Will they prevent these ghost words from crossing back over to the mortal realm? Will they answer each meddlesome riddle so as to vanquish the semantic spirits? Will Kyle be able to pull as many film references from the ether as will definitely be needed to make to the end? Find out! As that ghastly ghostly grimoire haunts us once more!
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Additional Music:
"Tragic Story" by Myuu
"Signs in the Fields" by Rafael Krux
Cthulhu fans rejoice, because this week Emily and Kyle discuss the meaning and origin of chthonic, a word that likely inspired the name of Lovecraft’s most beloved beast.
They talk about this word’s association with both the underground and the underworld, and get in a delightful dose of Greek mythology to boot. Chthonic can be used to describe Greek gods of both Hell and Earth, including Hades, Persephone, Dionysus, and more.
Our hosts also bring in another word for describing the gods, this one deriving from the primordial god of the sky, Uranus. These “uranic” gods of Mount Olympus seem entirely opposite to the chthonic gods, even with their own forms of ritual and sacrifice. But Kyle and Emily discuss how they might not be so far apart after all.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
This episode sees Kyle and Emily discuss the meaning and origin of humdudgeon. And believe us–this word is nothing to gripe about!
This slang word from Scotland is great for when you’re feeling ill, falsely or otherwise, and you want to make sure everybody knows about it. Our hosts explore how it’s been used to describe an unnecessary whine, a genuine sickness, or a downright coward.
In breaking down this blended word, they uncover the nonsense that Scrooge was talking about when he uttered his most famous phrase: “Bah humbug!” And that’s not the only Charles Dickens character full of anger in this episode. And, before they close out, our hosts also reveal an unexpected connection between a Scottish author and a breed of terrier.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
This word is everything. And it’s also just ken. This week, Emily and Kyle discover that ken is a lot more than just a doll in Barbie land.
They find that this word begins, aptly, with Old English definitions related to birth and kin. Ken quickly leaves the next, however, flying to Scotland and gaining a myriad of meanings about knowledge and sight. Turns out it even relates to the everyday word ‘can’!
They discuss how ken still shows up in Scottish English meaning know or see--as well as ken’s existence in American English as something called a fossil word. But perhaps that part is much ado about nothing…
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Kyle’s in a giving spirit this week, and shows his charitable nature by telling Emily all about the word eleemosynary.
They reveal the word’s Latin and Greek roots, and how it’s related to words for donation, mercy, and even a war cry! They talk about the importance of charity, the plight of the beggar--and how there are, perhaps, better words to use than this rather long one.
They also discuss the world of welfare, and the role of prayer in the Middle Ages shelter. This brings an unexpected connection to prayer beads and the origin of the word beads itself!
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Emily and Kyle talk unearth ancient treasure and sift through linguistic bric-a-brac as they discuss the word mathom.
They talk about the word’s origin in Old English, and the definition’s journey from valuable gifts to sundry knick-knacks. They also explore some long-forgotten letters of the English alphabet, like a consonant called thorn and a vowel called ethel.
Our hosts then turn to the world of fantasy, discussing how mathom fits into the word of Lord of the Rings. They talk about the hobbit habit of hoarding trinkets, and the impressive linguistic expertise of J.R.R. Tolkien. And their discussion of the Elvish leads them to talk about other fictional languages from Game of Thrones, Avatar, and even Sims 4.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
This week, Kyle takes Emily on a circular journey around the word deasil. (And, no, he didn’t just misspell the word diesel.)
They discover the secret of why clockwise is clockwise, and discuss how the movement of the sun was once seen as lucky. They also reveal their north bias, wondering if clocks turn the right way south of the equator.
But they also discuss the opposite of deasil, widdershins, and take a hard left turn into the occult. Kyle and Emily discuss the first witch trial of Scotland, the reason King James was so superstitious, and how those events affected the career of William Shakespeare.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Emily and Kyle go on a quest through a rich etymology and a myriad of meanings, and battle the linguistic dragon that is the word swinge.
No, not swing. Not singe. Swinge. Emily and Kyle delve into exactly what separates all these similar words--and the facets of linguistics that connect them, like etymological doublets and shifts in pronunciation.
Our hosts take a liking to “swinge” as an epic fantasy word. A word to wield a sword to. A word to smite dragons with. A word which Shakespeare used for the duel of St. George, and Milton used for the fury of Satan!
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Taxonomy fans rejoice! Kyle and Emily are talking about animal adjectives--in particular, a word that is both dear and deer, elaphine.
The pair discuss the red deer stag: king of all other deer! They dig into the plethora of Greek, Latin, and English words that have been applied to these animals. And they peer into the world of old-timey deer hunting.
But it’s not all antlers and hunting today. Kyle and Emily also read some truly devastating zoology insults. And they also explore the mythical tragelaphus, half goat, half stag. It’s a stunning mythical creature which… might have just been an antelope.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Get ready for a side-splitting episode, cause this week Emily and Kyle are exploring the laughter-filled etymology of abderian.
Visit the Greek polis of Abdera, and hear how it may or may not have been founded by Hercules. Learn what made the Joker call Gotham a city of fools. And listen to some utterly absurd jokes that totally brought the house down in Ancient Greece.
Lastly, dip your toe into some philosophy to discover just what Democritus and Immanuel Kant had to laugh about. Spoiler alert: the real joke is the eventual downfall of humanity!
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Kyle and Emily examine the rich tapestry of language, fashion, and politics that is the word foulard, and unravel the threads connecting stamped silk to nifty neckerchiefs to religious raiments.
They delve into the oldest methods of dyeing silk handkerchiefs--a process not unlike how you dyed your t-shirt at summer camp. Kyle and Emily then discuss how language, too, is a tie-dyed blend of metaphor, metonymy, and synecdoche, creating an intricate pattern of words and symbols.
And this humble scarf leads our hosts in yet another direction: a plight of French Muslim schoolgirls. They talk about the French “laïcité” principle of secularism, and how it affects Islamic garments like the chador or the hijab.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
This week, the Butter No Parsnips gang reflects on a year of words. With poetry, leisurely strolls down memory lane, and special cameos by voices from their past, Emily, Kyle, and Seth celebrate what one year of an etymology podcast can do to a trio of friends.
Don’t get it confused for any standard year-end retrospective though, those poems aren’t written by old, white Europeans this time, they’re written by former guests, Patreon patrons, and the hosts themselves, all with one unique catch: Try to use as many of the words that have been covered on the show as possible. You won’t regret hearing the end results.
Thank you to everyone for joining us every week for the past year as we’ve explored the fascinating origins and meanings of words, and uncovered the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time. We look forward to the next!
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Today, in preparation for our anniversary, we submit for your consideration a sneak peek into the seedy underbelly of Butter No Parsnips, the BNP after dark Patreon series Butter’d Parsnips.
In this episode, Kyle and Emily are tasked with exploring the qualities of some of the worst words Seth could conjure up in an effort to tap into what it is about some words that just make us cringe.
We hope that this brief look into what goes on behind the paywall is enough to inspire you to support us on Patreon, where alongside monthly releases of Butter’d Parsnips, $5 can also gain you access to early episodes, behind-the-scenes goings on, updates on the show in general, Afterthoughts, bloopers, and more!
Head to www.patreon.com/butternoparsnips to see what all the fuss is about!
This week, Emily and Kyle look at a real doozy of a word, zemblanity, and its equally delightful companion word, serendipity.
They find out how these two words are linked to the island nation of Sri Lanka, and to a cozy Persian fairy tale about a trio of lucky princes. And the winding tale of these words leads them to a famous Walpole, and his involvements in politics, gothic architecture, and letter-writing.
They explore zemblanity’s inevitable origin in a book called Armadillo and an island off the coast of Russia. They also hone in on exactly how serendipity and zemblanity are opposites. Last, but certainly not least, they touch on the idea of serendipitous discovery and invention, and reveal the greatest of all dinosaurs.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Kyle and Emily dive into the world of public performance and many other professions to explore mogiphonia, as well as its sister words mogigraphia and mogilalia.
They begin by looking at a malady which has afflicted every singer, musician, and public speaker for centuries. And they might get a glimpse of where this stereotype of the temperamental performer comes from. Singing and public speaking ain’t easy! And we’re not just talking about a run-of-the-mill sore throat or stage fright, here!
It’s not just the voice that’s suffering, either. This episode reveals many struggles of occupational health. Or, at least, many occupations that struggle with a hand cramp. Lastly, our hosts learn that there’s been a medical term for a stutter for quite some time! And Kyle reveals that the stuttering of Finnegan’s Wake had more significance than Emily thought.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
We hope you brought your BEC, cause this week Emily and Kyle are talking about their deeply-ingrained Long Island roots. …Oh, and they’re also talking about the meaning of shibboleth!
They chat about this word’s origins in the Hebrew Bible–which isn’t just the Torah, by the way! Emily reads verses about a high-risk test in the Book of Judges, and Kyle learns the most important difference between Gilead and Ephraim.
But it turns out this isn’t the only life-saving password from history. A pirate from Friesland used a Frisian phrase to find foes, certain men of the United States navy used a subtle saying to find friends, and your local university uses an SSO to get you the research you need. Looks like whenever and wherever you are, it pays to know the right shibboleth!
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
This week Kyle and Emily pack up some snacks, get some showtunes going, and take a road trip through the meaning and history of the caravanserai.
They find out that it’s actually a compound word. They’ve heard of a caravan, but… a serai? And this word answers valuable questions, like: What are the best places to stay along the Silk Road? What’s the most luxurious thing an inn can have? (Hint: you GOTTA check out the hammam, a.k.a. Turkish bath.). And what makes a really good travel agency, according to explorer Ibn Battuta?
And those aren’t the only useful tidbits to be learned this week. Turns out the messengers of the Achaemenid Empire have a surprising connection to your modern post office, which showcases why we should all support the USPS. Emily is surprisingly good at pronouncing the name of that guy from The Grand Budapest Hotel. And Kyle has a surprisingly detailed knowledge of Mario Kart tracks!
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Come along with Emily and Kyle as they discuss the incunable (not an adjective!) and the beginning of books as we know them.
This Latin word takes us through the history of printing, in Europe and beyond. We learn about all the ways people have put words on the page--from the manuscript, to block printing, to the infancy of moveable type and the Gutenberg Press.
Last but certainly not least, we take a peek at the back of the book to see something called a colophon, and learn that logos and slogans have had a place in books since the beginning. But we also get a valuable warning: the blurb at the back of your library book might be casting a dangerous curse!
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Kyle and Emily glimpse into their crystal ball and reveal a word that melds birdwatching and divination into one: alectryomancy.
They look at this word’s origins in ancient Greek, as well as its importance in ancient Rome. Turns out the magic of the rooster is not to be understated! (Though it is stated beautifully by our old friend Pliny the Elder.)
They’ll also take you through some thrilling (if violent) tales from Roman history--including one about a fortune teller, some chickens, and 288,000 lost quincunxes. And they squeeze in a few extra tidbits to peck at, like the divining rituals of hermeticism and the etymology of “praying mantis”!
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Kyle, Emily, and special guest Arne Christensen (@learnfirm_med_term) sit down and chew the fat about digestion, and medical terminology at large.
Christensen shares his research on the Greek and Latin roots behind several medical terms doctors use every day. And he discusses how the journey from ancient meaning to modern usage is not always so simple.
Best of all, Christensen takes you on a Dungeons and Dragons style quest through the digestive system, from the mouth to the stomach all the way to the intestines, sharing little-known medical terminology and etymology all along the way.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
This week Emily and Kyle travel eastward, taking a look at the Sanskrit language and at the little-known word bahuvrihi.
The pair discuss the grammar of compound words, both in English and Sanskrit. And they discover how adjectives and nouns can take on new meanings when joined together, becoming greater than the sum of their parts.
They also explore the influence of Indian languages in English--and how that influence shows up in places you might not expect! (Sure, words from Hinduism and Buddhism, like karma, aren’t hard to believe. But juggernaut? Or fruit punch??)
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Kyle and Emily sate their etymological appetite once again, as they discuss the sinfully satisfying word “ingordigious.”
They explore the word’s origins in Italian and Latin, and its connection to the Spanish “gordo.” They also peer into the life of one John Bastwick, and his veritable litany of grievances about the greedy world around him. And his thoughts are seconded (more tactfully, perhaps) by modern lexicographer Susie Dent!
But it’s not just greed on the menu today! There’s also gluttony, lust, sloth--and a whole host of spectacular slang terms related to the Seven Deadly Sins.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
This week, Emily and Kyle explore the word “grognard,” its roots in French history, and its modern usage in tabletop gaming.
The two unpack grognard’s historical context in the French Imperial Army of Napoleon. They read the laundry list of requirements of his esteemed Old Guard, and how the privileges of their position gave way to a new word.
They also talk about the connection between Napoleon’s grumbling old soldiers and the RPG world’s grumbling war gamers--and the semantic change that bridges the two. And they (carefully) address the differences between war games and Dungeons and Dragons.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Kyle and Emily journey from ancient Greek philosophy to American transcendentalism, as they delve into the history of the Lyceum.
Back in their old stompin’ grounds of ancient Greece, Kyle and Emily discover the connections between the god Apollo, the gymnasium, and the birth of academia. They also chat about the intellectual legacy of Aristotle and his impact on lecturing.
Fast-forwarding a ways, they explore the American Lyceum movement, and its effect on 19th century transcendentalism. They look at figures like Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson: how they embraced the Lyceum, education, and self-reliance.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Emily and Kyle chat it up with writer T Campbell in this puzzling episode of Butter No Parsnips as they uncover the multiple meanings of the term 'logology' and venture into the fascinating world of wordplay.
They get the scoop on the recently shuttered wordplay journal Word Ways, but find hope in Campbell’s newly launched Journal of Wordplay. He delights them with tastes of submissions so far including abecedarian sentences, spoonerisms, alphagraphic arithmetic, hidden words, and all of the AI technology in between. He even brings a few to life with some brain bending on-air examples.
Campbell even lifts the veil on what it means to be not just a crossword enthusiast, but designer as well, as he shares some details of what it takes to design a record breaking crossword.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Seth opens the Lexiconicon again this week in this captivating episode of Butter No Parsnips where Kyle and Emily explore the indexy world of hapax legomena.
Discover how the intriguing legomenon phenomenon appears in the Holy Bible, Shakespeare's works, and how it may contribute to evidence for the Baconian theory of Shakespeare authorship.
You’ll learn of the fascinating patterns behind Zipf's Law, Heap's Law, and Benford's Law in language and literature, and journey through the Pauline epistles to get there.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
On this episode of Butter No Parsnips, Kyle and Emily dive deep into the fascinating etymology of the word “quark” and the complexity of particle physics.
They discuss the spelling and dichotomy of pronunciation of "quark," and uncover surprising connections between James Joyce's "Finnegan's Wake" and the legendary tale of Tristan and Isolde.
But the exploration doesn't stop there: they delve even deeper into Joyce's peculiar writing style, including the stunning and terrifying "thunderwords."
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast
You can watch this episode on YouTube at www.YouTube.com/@ButterNoParsnips
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
You’ll be quaking in your buckled shoes this episode as Emily learns the naming origins of name-words, finds herself in the middle of a mistaken-identity crisis, and discovers Kyle’s new fascination with oat-based meals.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Pull out your history books, kids! This week, Kyle does a refresher course on the French Revolution, the British Parliament holds a rather nervous meeting, and Emily reveals the unexpected origins of some everyday words.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Hungry? This episode isn’t for you. Join Emily and Gross Kyle as they separate myth from fact from food, learn about how the Romans really threw sorority parties (Bring Your Own Bull), and discover that Jesus might have had some Dionysian inspiration.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Kyle and Emily discover a simple, relatable way to explain difficult medical concepts, discuss an impressively long-running publication, and review the more doubtfully long-running life of one Thomas Parr.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Celebrate Women’s History Month the Butter No Parsnips way: by remembering how men have been, historically, big jerks. Listen as Kyle tactfully connects the dots between cavil and another familiar accusatory word, Emily is transported to John Wayne Wycliffe’s Old English West, and the right famous Queen of Navarre finally gets some retribution for “vertuous women of all ages”.
You can also celebrate by entering to win a free t-shirt with an original design by our logo designer Iris Edmunds. All this week, we'll be releasing posts that celebrate iconic women in lexicography. To enter, all you have to do is follow us @butternoparsnipspodcast on Instagram, share at least one of the posts to your story, and tag us in it! By doing so, you enter to win a shirt inspired by another episode of ours with a feminist bent.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
This week, Emily presents some of history's most vexing questions, Greek philosophers find that ignorance really is bliss, and Kyle tries to define some monstrous rhetorical terminology.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
This episode is out of this world! Join Emily and Kyle as they take a lawyerly look at the stars, travel to space in the worst modes of transportation imaginable, and meet their new ten-legged overlords.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
This decidedly word-centric episode sees Kyle and Emily talk about the organic evolutions of words, the slightly less organic coinage of words, and the OED’s older brother NED. Give it a listen, for the nonce!
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
In today’s chymical chat, Emily and Kyle discover the GOATest goats, try out the newest (godless) fad exercise, and, somehow, ruminate on the origin of all of existence.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Kyle and Emily are joined by the not-at-all mephitic Michael Stephan, pagerunner for @tautonyms on Instagram, who helps Kyle out with a tough word and then delivers a few of his own as he guides our hosts through the animal world of the doubly-named.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
In this hearty and humorous presentation, Emily and Kyle look at a few early English dictionaries, learn a forgotten word that never really took off, and read the decidedly difficult writings of one Lorenzo Altisonant.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Join Kyle and Emily as they take a tour of Roma (Italy and Texas), discover the real reason marble statues are missing their noses, and visit the tragic resting place of one of Shakespeare’s most tragic families.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
On this special episode of Butter No Parsnips, Kyle and Emily speak to author of the book Once Upon a Word: A Word-Origin Dictionary for Kids and word wizard Jess Zafarris (@uselessetymology) about just a few of the most illicit of her many etymological adventures.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
This week, Emily attempts to describe the nuances of Martian culture, reveals the unexpected link between beat literature, I.T. magazines, and Forbes articles, and tests Kyle’s knowledge of science fiction. You grok?
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Sweet dreams are made of words! Kyle and Emily learn way too much about architecture (it’s all about the cupolas), get personal with Mr. and Madame So-and-So, and realize modern art might all lead back to two Swiss-Austrian artists.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
This word might be familiar to some (or it might not…), but it prompts Emily and Kyle to discuss the formation of hybrid languages, the presence of indigenous terms in Seattle slang, and Mark Twain’s travels and tribulations in the tropics.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Seth opens up the Lexiconicon once more, but this time in a jolly way, as he takes Emily and Kyle on a journey through the strange, French, and enviably productive world of Oulipo. And all to serve an incredibly contrived and festive end no less!
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Kyle and Emily are no fools in this episode, in which they discuss a play about an old lady with poor decision making skills, the 3 oldest Stooges, Tom, Dick, and Dan, and the life of one of America’s underrated and overlooked authors.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Strap in, sports fans, because Emily and Kyle are talking about the crazy scoring of American football, the constant evolution of modern language, and the creative word-smithery of Lewis Carroll.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Take a taste of the high life as Kyle and Emily weasel their way into the upper class intrigue of the 19th century, meet the first muppet president of Iceland, and play a long game of telephone – er, letters, we guess.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Think you know this word already? Take another squint at it, as Emily tells Kyle about some protrusive parish architecture, a comparably cushy form of seclusion, and a seriously saucy group of nuns.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
In this episode Kyle dazzles Emily with an ancient and magical word, alerts the world to the existence of the “werely porpapyne”, and we learn that “smaradge” isn’t just from a The Princess Bride bit.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
This week Emily and Kyle answer such beastly questions as: What does it mean to have a parrot on your coat of arms? Who gets to be the Popinjay King? and What are the best (and worst) animal sounds?
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Emily discovers the variety of meanings a three-letter word can have, everything’s snappy and, just, “Blix”, you know, and Clapham and Dwyer take us back to the era of Gugnuncs with their classic vaudeville routine.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
On this terrifying episode of Butter No Parsnips, your hosts Kyle Imperatore and Emily Moyers are joined by the spirit of Seth Gliksman as he cracks open the sacred Lexiconicon to peer deep into the weird word world. Through divination and conjuration and prestidigitation, Seth shares the hidden mysteries of anagrams gone by before the Lexiconicon beckons him back to the realm whence he came.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
In our first ever guest episode, Kyle and Emily are joined by fellow word enthusiast Jackie (@jackiequaranto) to discuss Spanish rascals, a beloved Australian children’s book, and a questionable career move for several actors.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Tantivy, soho! Saddle up and ride tantivy with yokels Kyle and Emily as they discover the Lexicon Balatronicum, flashback to slander the likeness of an old friend, and sing their little hearts out (if you don’t leave this one humming, you’ve got no groove).
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Kyle might find it hard to believe that this word has multiple meanings--but Emily reveals how “quincunx” relates to a short-lived Roman coin, a bizarre horticultural book, and even a common board game piece.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
In this third of a line of ‘y’-ending words: Emily describes the day-to-day of Mayor of Thebes and man-about-tomb, Senefer, Kyle introduces the sport of battledore (not a colosseum-style fight to the death), and the two discuss the meaning of some pneumatic mnemonics.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Kyle twiddles his fingers in excitement as Emily deciphers the Middle English writings of a female saint, airs the grievances of a 17th century French incel, and finds a symbol of empowerment in the most unlikely of places.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Strap in for the long haul as Kyle takes Emily on a deep-dive into the hidden intentions of the Hermetic tradition, the biography of real ladies-man Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim (yes, he’s definitely single, trust me), and a seriously strange suffix.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Emily brings Kyle the oldest word this podcast has seen, Stoic hero Quintus Columbo McCarthy takes on the world’s greatest injustices, and Jon Voight reveals his most famous catchphrase.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Travel back in time with Kyle and Emily to confront medieval baby-faced adults and adult-faced babies, grapple with the existence of Renaissance brand identities, and examine the worst ways to organize a dictionary (hint: anything not alphabetical).
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
This week, Emily presents Kyle’s dream episode--in which he tells us about his pasta-related roots, learns about something called “Arp,” and talks about the gagadoodoononsense play King Ubu.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Follow along with Kyle and Emily as Herr Wurzner gives a first-hand account of his ~~in~~credible life, Mrs. Adolf Doubtfire appears to ruin your day, and America’s problem with pinup girls is put on trial in the Supreme Court.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Emily and Kyle delve into the extensive lore of the vampire Count Scrofula, 16th century pitchman Bilius Mays hawks his exclusive Angel Coins, and the Bills of Mortality are both too specific and too vague.
Featuring the vocal stylings of Jess Murphy and Seth Gliksman.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore.
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers.
Kyle and Emily skippity-doo on a brisk walk with Richard Simmons, plan their English vacation to the village of Westward Ho!, and list their favorite fictional babies that may (or may not) appear in a Dickensian socialist fairy tale.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Emily brings the delightful sounds and swears of a London fish market, reads excerpts from the Grose-est dictionary ever written, and demonstrates why Kyle should never cross the roast-master Adam Gibb.
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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Coming soon! A brand new weekly podcast about some pretty old words! Word connoisseurs Kyle Imperatore and Emily Moyers go on an adventure every week trying to stump one another with a very weird word.
Journeying through the colorful history of how the word came to be, what it means, and who still uses it, the two delight in the strange characters and bizarre places the words often take them to and hope, above all else, that you will too!
Support us!
www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main Theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore