Linguistic smothies

The origin of smog, popsicle, and other common portmanteaus

We all know that brunch means breakfast plus lunch, or that Eurasia is used to refer to the connected European and Asian continents. But did you know that words like twirl, smog, or Texarkana are in the same category of portmanteaus or blend words?

Portmanteaus (from the French porte-manteau, ‘cloak-carrier’, a suitcase that opens in two equal parts) are terms formed by combining two or more words, their sounds, or their meanings. They were named by Lewis Carrol (the one from Alice in Wonderland) to explain the logic behind some odd words in his poem Jabberwocky: like a porte-manteau that you open in two parts, portmanteaus are opened to reveal two meanings. Let’s explore some common portmanteaus (and also some that are false).

This word is used to talk about anything that spins or rotates, like someone doing a pirouette or moving their thumbs around each other. It is a term common in everyday language, but did you know it’s a blend of two words?

Yes, twirl comes from combining twist and whirl, both in sound and meaning. A twirl, then, is a rotation (twist) that happens rapidly (whirl). Something to think about the next time you find yourself twirling your thumbs.

The word ‘popsicle’ was originally the name of an ice pop brand started by Frank Epperson, who forgot a bucket of powdered lemonade on his porch and found it frozen the next morning. But how did the word ‘popsicle’ come to be?

This treat was originally called the "Epsicle ice pop", a combination of Epperson and icicle. Allegedly, Frank’s children started calling it a ‘popsicle’ (pop + icicle) and insisted the name be changed. In time, the brand became so popular that it became the usual term for any ice pop.

If you ever find yourself near the Texas-Arkansas border, you might find a city called Texarkana. In fact, you might find two cities called Texarkana, one in each state, both in the Texarkana Metropolitan Area.

It’s not clear who named them, but everyone agrees that Texarkana is a portmanteau for Texas-Arkansas-Louisiana. Both cities claim to have the same birth date, but we can debunk this: Arkansan Texarkana was founded a year before Texan Texarkana.

First of all, what is a contrail? Contrails are the line-shaped clouds left by aircraft, missiles, or rockets as a result of engine exhaust vapor combining with low temperatures. The vapor of the engines condenses when it contacts the cold atmosphere, leaving a trail, so condensation + trail: contrail.

Sadly for couch potatoes everywhere, it is a proven fact that exercise makes you feel good. This is because, during physical exercise, our brain creates endorphins, which work as painkillers and mood boosters.

Why are these natural painkillers called this way? You might remember the word morphine, the name of a common opiate analgesic. Endorphins are endogenous, meaning they are created by our organism. Combine this word with an old spelling of morphine, endogenous + morphin: endorphin.

Any sitcom fan might tell you that the appeal of the genre is not about the narrative arcs but the funny situations the characters find themselves in.

This comedic format, originally produced for radio, was first called situational comedy. With time, it was combined into a portmanteau, situational + comedy: sitcom.

Let’s have a look at a false portmanteau. For centuries before sugar was brought to Europe, parsnips were used as a sweetener. Ancient Romans called them pastinaca, now part of their scientific name (pastinaca sativa). How did they come to be called parsnips?

It is a widespread belief that parsnip is a portmanteau for parsley + turnip, since parsnip leaves look similar to parsley, but this is not true. In Old French, parsnips were called pasnaie, a word that Old English adopted as pasnepe. The ending -nepe meant turnip, so in time, pasnepe evolved into parsnip. So, not a blended word, but one that you will find in many portmanteau lists.

Being electrocuted is not a pleasant experience, and the origins of the word are as gruesome as the thing described. In the late 19th Century, the state of New York adopted the electric shock as the standard form of capital punishment. Newspapers covering the first execution by this method mixed the words electric + execution, coining the portmanteau electrocution.

Lacking a judicial term to describe accidental deaths caused by electricity, electrocution came to be used for all incidents involving an electric shock.

Air pollution is an unfortunate reality in our current world, and words like smog are a byproduct of these environmental issues. The city of London has suffered from bad air quality and fog for many centuries, an issue only worsened by smoke during the Industrial Revolution.

This phenomenon, also called pea soup fog, eventually became known as smog, a portmanteau of smoke + fog. The term not only describes the greyish color associated with it, but also the smell produced by chemical contaminants.

Let’s end our list with a portmanteau nearly as old as the profession it names. In the English language, the word shepherd is recorded as early as the 12th Century, though it had been in use for many centuries before that. Middle English sceepherde comes from Old English scēaphyrde, a portmanteau for scēap (sheep) + hierde (herdsman, someone who keeps domesticated animals).

The original term was only used for animal keepers, but eventually gained the added meaning of ‘leader’ or ‘guide’. Lewis Carroll might have named portmanteaus in the 19th Century, but they have existed since the dawn of time.

PHILOSOPHY TO GO

10 Essential Nuggets Of Wisdom From Ancient Philosophers

Image: Adam King

Ancient philosophers may have lived in a time long past, but their ideas continue to resonate with us today. In their pursuit of understanding the complexities of existence, they often came up with simple yet profound insights that still hold relevance in our modern lives.

Join us as we uncover 10 fundamental ideas from antiquity’s wisest minds.

Image: Михаил Секацкий

"To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom"

Socrates, the father of Western philosophy, urged individuals to delve deep into self-awareness. He famously argued that an unexamined life was not worth living, as understanding oneself is the key to living a fulfilled life. By questioning our beliefs, desires, and motives, we can navigate the complexities of existence with clarity and purpose.

Image: Jem Sahagun

"Do not do unto others what you would not want others to do unto you"

Confucius emphasized the importance of treating others with kindness and respect. His Golden Rule of treating others the same way we expect to be treated ourselves is a timeless reminder of the power that empathy and compassion have in fostering harmonious relationships and societies.

Image: Matt Bennett

"There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power or our will"

Stoic philosophers like Epictetus taught the concept of focusing only on what is within our control and accepting what is not. This principle liberates us from unnecessary worry about external events, enabling us to focus our time and energy on actions that can actually make a difference in our lives.

Image: Aamir Suhail

"Virtue is the golden mean between two vices, the one of excess and the other of deficiency"

Aristotle advocated for moderation in all things, promoting the idea of finding the balance between extremes. Whether it's in pursuing pleasure, seeking knowledge, or exercising virtues, maintaining a middle path fosters harmony and avoids the pitfalls of excess.

Image: George Liapis

"Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being"

The ancient Chinese philosopher Laozi extolled the virtues of simplicity and spontaneity. By embracing the natural flow of life and shedding unnecessary complexities, we can find true contentment and peace within ourselves.

Image: Wil Stewart

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not"

Epicurus defined pleasure as the absence of pain and tranquility of the mind. His philosophy encourages seeking simple pleasures and cultivating inner serenity rather than chasing fleeting desires that go nowhere, leading to a more sustainable and fulfilling life.

Image: kazuend

"No one ever steps in the same river twice"

Heraclitus famously argued that change is the only constant in life. Just like the waters of a running river are never the same, every element of existence transforms yet simultaneously retains an element of itself. Embracing this inevitable part of life allows us to adapt and grow, finding strength in the ebb and flow of things.

Image: Olivier Guillard

"The greatest wealth is to live content with little"

Diogenes, the Cynic philosopher, lived a minimalist lifestyle to demonstrate the insignificance of material possessions. Allegedly, when asked by Alexander the Great what he could do for him, he bluntly asked the monarch to move so he would stop blocking his sunlight. His radical rejection of both wealth and social status challenges us to reassess our priorities and find true value in the intangible aspects of life.

Image: Denys Nevozhai

"Accept the things to which fate binds you"

The Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius embraced stoicism and with it the idea of fate and the impermanence of life. By acknowledging the inevitability of death and adversity in life, he sought to cultivate inner resilience and focus on living virtuously in the present moment.

Image: Kenny Eliason

"Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all"

Hypatia, a renowned mathematician and philosopher in ancient Alexandria, championed the pursuit of knowledge and intellectual inquiry. Despite societal constraints placed on women during her time, she fearlessly pursued learning. A tragic heroine of antiquity, she teaches us that thinking is our utmost right, and the only way to reach truth is learning from our mistakes.