Odd words, old meanings

A cobweb vs. a spiderweb: Is there a difference?

How much is a notch when it comes to volume? Who is Bob, and why is he everyone’s uncle? What is the difference between a spider web and a cobweb? Languages change with time and use, and English is no exception, but some phrases remain frozen in time, and while we still use them, we don’t always know their literal meaning. Here are 10 idioms and words that don’t make sense, but once did.

We often use the phrase "to a T" (sometimes spelled "to a tee") to indicate something done perfectly, with precision. But is it about the letter "T"? Not really. The original phrase used to be "to a tittle," with tittle being the proper name for the dot of the "i" or the "j," and it conveyed the idea of doing something accurately, down to the smallest detail. Eventually, "tittle" was shortened to "T," but the phrase had already stuck, even if its literal meaning was lost.

Although "fathom" might sound very formal, we all know that it is synonymous with "understand." But did you know that fathom is actually a nautical unit of measurement? From the Old English fæðm ("the span of the arms" or "embrace"), it represented the distance between the left and right fingertips of outstretched arms. Eventually, a "fathom" was standardized to about six feet or two yards, and was mainly used by sailors to measure water depth. It was this connection with depth that led the word to take on a figurative meaning of "getting to the bottom" of something, or understanding it thoroughly.

Popularly, we understand that a "red herring" is something meant to give false clues or distract from another pressing issue. But why a herring? Herrings turn red when smoked and also acquire a strong, pungent smell, which made them a great tool for training hunting dogs, as the smell of the fish covered the trail of the prey. As a metaphor, though, it was popularized in the early 19th century by journalist William Cobbett, who used it to describe how the press was easily swayed by false news.

If something is a "rule of thumb," it means that it’s a common guideline, usually based on experience rather than science. In its origins, this phrase was quite literal: thumbs served as a rule. Tradesmen often used the width and length of their thumbs to take and remember measurements, a system that, though practical and effective, only worked for the owner of the thumb in question. Its use as an idiom comes from 17th century writers comparing this popular method with more scientific measuring systems.

If someone asks us to "take it down a notch," how much should we lower our volume? With "notch," this idiom refers to mechanical dials, like the ones used in a radio, where the notches signal the different levels. And while radios only date back to the 20th century, the roots of this idiom go all the way back to the 17th century and to the phrase "take it down a peg," related to wooden pins used for measurements.

Is there a difference between a cobweb and a spiderweb? Although they are synonymous, most dictionaries will make the distinction that "cobweb" is particularly used for dusty, abandoned spiderwebs. But what does the "cob" part mean? "Cobweb" is derived from the Middle English coppeweb, composed of coppe ("spider") and web ("woven fabric"). If we go one step further, coppe comes from the Old English attorcoppe ("spider"), a mix of attor ("poison") and coppe ("head" or "round thing"). So, despite the slight difference in their actual use, "cobweb" and "spiderweb" mean the same thing.

It isn’t difficult to see how "breaking the ice" might have originated from people actually breaking ice, but what many ignore is that this custom (and the phrase) is rooted in diplomacy and trade. When large trade vessels were unable to advance due to frozen rivers, canals, or harbors, it was common to send people in a small boat to "break the ice" and allow the ship to continue its course. In some places, however, locals would send "icebreakers" to clear the path for a foreign vessel as a welcome and a sign of goodwill. The metaphorical use of the phrase exists in many languages, but it was first recorded in English in the 16th century.

The idea of "letting down your hair" is popularly associated with relaxing and letting formalities aside, but the phrase is rooted in an actual Medieval and Renaissance custom. Traditionally, single women would keep their hair loose and uncovered, but would pin it up once they married. It was not proper for a married woman to be seen in public with their hair down, something they would only do in the comfort of their home, foregoing elaborate hairstyles and uncomfortable pins. Eventually, loose hair lost its social status meaning, but the connection with relaxation remained.

According to historians, no one knows who Uncle Bob is, or what his connection is with simple and easily accomplished tasks, but popular folklore claims to have the answer. According to this theory, the phrase refers to British Prime Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecil (who went by Bob), appointing his nephew Arthur Balfour as Chief Secretary for Ireland, a position he was woefully unqualified for, but that was made possible because "Bob’s your uncle".

Have you ever wondered why midwives have that name? After all, there is nothing "mid" nor necessarily "wifely" in helping someone give birth. The answer takes us back to Old English, where mid meant "with" or "together with," and wif (the origin of "wife") meant "woman," "female," or "lady," and not necessarily a married female. First recorded around the year 1300, "midwife" was an accompanying person (typically a woman) who assisted mothers during labor. Although the literal meaning of the term is lost to us, the importance of the role was surely the reason this word survived through the centuries.

Nature's workforce

9 animals with human professions in their names

Image: ayush kumar

We often compare animals to ourselves, sometimes to the point where we assign them actual human professions. From birds that sound like office workers to fish that double as surgeons, nature seems to be handing out CVs left and right. Here are some creatures whose names make it sound like they should be getting a paycheck.

Image: Elize Bezuidenhout

This tall African bird looks like it just left a board meeting: long legs, tidy feathers, and a quill-like crest behind its head. Its "secretary" title dates back to colonial observers who thought the feathers resembled pens tucked behind an accountant's ear. However, there's nothing bureaucratic about these birds: they are efficient predators that hunt venomous snakes with terrifying precision.

Image: Paul Engel

Without even bothering with wearing hard hats, these buzzing builders drill into wood with perfect, round precision to build their nests. Their name comes, of course, from their uncanny craftsmanship: they are dedicated workers who toil tirelessly for the benefit of their colony.

Image: Bermix Studio

The common name "army ant" is applied to over 200 ant species that share a common characteristic: they form aggressive, predatory foraging groups that detect and overwhelm their prey at once. Among army ants, the members of the soldier caste are larger than the workers, with much bigger mandibles, tasked with protecting the colony and carrying the heaviest loads of prey back to it.

Image: Ryan Geller

This species of shark doesn't owe its nickname to their looks or behavior, but simply to changes in spelling conventions. The Old English word husse or nusse was used to describe dogfish and other sharks. The word eventually mutated into nurse, and the name stuck. No funny stories about sharks wearing stethoscopes here.

Image: Stötzer Balázs

Another medically oriented fish, surgeonfish are named after the sharp, retractable spines near their tails that look like built-in scalpels. They use these razor-sharp spines to defend themselves from predators while grazing algae with surgical neatness in coral reefs.

Image: Tam Minton

These hardworking little creatures congregate in coral reefs in what researchers call "cleaning stations." At these locations, larger aquatic wildlife, such as fish, sea turtles, and even sharks, line up for the cleaner shrimp's special service: it eats their parasites. Everyone leaves the cleaning station happy; the clients have their parasites removed, and the shrimp enjoys a hearty meal.

Image: Jorge Coromina

Long before we invented crop rotation, some species of leafcutting ants discovered that they could take their forage back to their nests and use it to grow fungi, on which they could later feed. Scientists believe that this agricultural behavior evolved in ants over 50 million years ago.

Image: Michal Robak

Unlike their more social cousins, the honey bees, miner bees lead solitary lives. The female bee builds a chimney-like structure in well-drained soils, which acts as an access to a single nest. Each bee tends to her nest alone and cares only for her own offspring. Their tunnels can stretch several feet, earning them their industrious miner reputation.

Image: Hongbin

This tiny Asian songbird sews together leaves using plant fibers and spider silk to create a cradle for its nest, like something straight out of a children's tale. British colonists in India were so enchanted by its craftsmanship that they named it the "tailorbird."