Why do we say hello? Thomas Edison’s hidden history of the phone

Have you ever stopped to wonder where our everyday words actually come from? You might be surprised to learn that dude started as a way to poke fun at men who were too fastidious about their outfits. Or that we owe the word hello to Thomas Edison, who thought it was a much better choice than Alexander Graham Bell’s suggestion, "ahoy" for telephone calls. Even the word OK is the lone survivor of an 1830s game of misspelled phrases. Let's explore the hidden stories behind the words we think we know so well.

Picture New York City in the early 1880s. Back then, dude was used to describe a "fastidious man," essentially a guy obsessed with his clothes and appearance. Some researchers believe it was actually a shortened version of "Yankee Doodle," referring to the character in the famous patriotic song. It was also used to make fun of people following the "aesthetic" fashion craze of the 1880s.

In the late 1800s, a dude was any Easterner who showed up looking a little too clean in the Western region of the US. From this, we get the term dude ranch, which was first recorded around 1921 to describe ranches that hosted these city-dwelling tourists for pay. It wasn't until the mid-1960s, in African-American jargon, that dude began to lose its negative edge and became a way to refer to any male.

While it feels like it’s been around forever, hello is actually a relatively young word. Its first known appearance dates back to 1826, in a Connecticut newspaper. Linguists believe it grew out of words like "hallo" or "hollo," which were used as loud calls to get a ferryman’s attention across a river or to urge hunting dogs forward.

It’s often said that Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, wanted people to answer the telephone with "ahoy!", but American inventor Thomas Edison pushed for "hello" as a clearer option. His version caught on, and soon telephone operators were known as "hello girls," helping turn the word into the everyday greeting we still use today.

Have you ever stopped to wonder where the word OK comes from? It first appeared in 1839 as the unique survivor of US slang. During this time, it was a common joke to use abbreviations for phrases based on deliberate misspellings. For example, people would use "N.C." for "enough said" as if it were spelled "nuff ced," or "K.Y." for "no use" as if it were "know yuse." And "OK" was used for "oll korrect".

This term was later popularized during the 1840 presidential election by the "OK Club," supporters of Martin "Old Kinderhook" Van Buren, and stuck because it provided a practical way to authorize documents. In 1919, Woodrow Wilson used the spelling "okeh" under the mistaken belief that it came from a Choctaw word meaning "it is so," though there was no historical evidence to support this. That version was eventually replaced by the modern spelling "okay" appeared in 1929.

The word jazz first appeared in American English around 1912, and it actually started as baseball slang rather than a musical term. In those early days, sports writers in California used it to describe something "lively" or "energetic," which is a meaning we still carry today when we say we want to "jazz something up." It likely grew out of the 1860s slang word jasm, which meant energy, vitality, or spirit, or from even an older word, gism, which carried a similar meaning in the mid-1800s.

The term was first applied to a new style of music in Chicago in 1915, specifically referring to Tom Brown’s all-white band from New Orleans. By 1918, the word also began to mean "unnecessary talk" or "rubbish," and the famous phrase "all that jazz," meaning "et cetera," was eventually recorded around 1939.

The origin of this word is not clear, but what is certain is that in the late 1700s, a quiz wasn't a test; it was a person. It was slang for someone who acted or dressed differently from the rest. By the 1840s, this grew into a common schoolboy prank where students would play jokes at the expense of someone they considered a quiz. Eventually, the meaning shifted toward the idea of a "puzzling question" designed to make someone look a bit foolish.

Around 1852, the word was used to describe a brief examination of a student. These early quizzes were usually oral and were designed to be a "thorough review" of lectures. By 1853, medical schools even had "quiz classes," where a system of close questioning was used to help students become familiar with their subjects in a way they couldn't get anywhere else.

Where does the word dog come from? The answer is still a mystery. The word docga is traced in some English as a reference to a powerful breed of canine, but the roots of the term have not been found yet.

It has replaced the terms hound, related to the German word hund, and cur, related to the German word korren, for growling. However, by the 16th century, the word dog was adopted in many continental countries: French dogue, Danish dogge, and German Dogge. What is more, in Spanish, they use the word perro for dog, and it also has an unknown origin. Were these terms first used as slang or nicknames?

Back in the mid-1200s, the word boy didn’t mean a child at all; it was used for a "servant," "commoner," or even a "troublemaker." By around 1300, it could also mean a "rascal" or "young criminal," and only by the mid-1300s to 1400 did it start to be used for a male child.

Although there are a few theories, its exact origin is still unknown. Some link it to Old French and Latin words related to servants. Linguist Anatoly Liberman even suggests it may come from a mix of a sound for an evil spirit and a baby word for brother. In places like Ireland, Cornwall, and the American West, boy could simply mean man. From around 1600, it was also used for enslaved or servant men, no matter their age.

We are used to seeing the term bad as the direct antithesis of good. But has it always been like that? The answer is negative. The direct opposite of good was originally evil until the 1700s, and bad was used less frequently.

It also has no other language relations. It is believed to be from the Old English derogatory term baeddel and its diminutive baedling, meaning "effeminate man, hermaphrodite, predrast," which are probably related to baedan, meaning "to defile."

Another word in the ‘origin unknown’ category is big. The word was first registered in the 13th century in writings from northern England and the North Midlands, with a sense of "powerful; strong." It is believed to have roots in a Scandinavian source, where the term bugge means "great man" in Norwegian dialect_._

Big started to be part of the English daily vocabulary in the 1400s, meaning "of great size," "full-grown, grown up," or "important, influential, powerful". In the 1500s, the sense of "haughty, inflated with pride" was added, and by 1913, it was also used to mean "generous."

Around the 1300s, the word girl (spelled gyrle) meant "a child or young person," and it could refer to both boys and girls, although it was used more often for females. Its exact origin is unknown, but the Oxford English Dictionary suggests it may come from a lost Old English word (gyrele). This possible root is linked to similar words in Germany, Norway, and Sweden, all meaning "small child."

Over time, the meaning changed. By the late 1300s, girl began to mean specifically a female child. By the mid-1400s, it was also used for a young unmarried woman. In the 1640s, it could mean "sweetheart," and by 1826, old girl was used for women of any age.

Fun festive feast

Gobble up these 10 Thanksgiving words to make the holiday extra special!

Image: Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦

Have you ever wondered about the special language of Thanksgiving? There’s a time of year when certain words are heard more frequently—turkey, dressing, gratitude… Do they ring any bells? This holiday is more than just turkey, family gatherings, and football games; it’s a time stuffed with unique words that make perfect sense in the spirit of the season. Thanksgiving vocabulary is as rich as the meal itself. Join us as we explore 10 Thanksgiving-related words that carry meanings, histories, and fun trivia. Are you ready? Let’s go!

Image: shawnee wilborn

Bounty is one of those words that instantly brings to mind Thanksgiving’s spirit of giving. Essentially, bounty means "a generous gift" or "abundance," so there is no other word more suitable than this one for a holiday dedicated to gratitude. Thanksgiving is the ideal time to celebrate the bounty of food, family, and friendship that fills our lives.

The word bounty has been around since the 1200s and traces its roots to the Latin word bonitas, meaning "goodness." It’s not just about quantity, but also quality, and during Thanksgiving, we get both. Don’t you think?

Image: Chelsea shapouri

The classic side dish that completes any Thanksgiving meal goes by two names: dressing or stuffing, and the choice of word depends largely on where you’re from.

"Dressing" originally referred to preparing a fowl for roasting—a term that gained popularity during the Victorian era, when "stuffing" was considered too informal or crude.

Nowadays, we don’t worry much about that, and the terms are almost interchangeable. Some people say stuffing if it’s cooked inside the turkey, and dressing if it’s served on the side. We don’t know about you, but we’re on that team—it just makes sense!

Either way, the debate (a tale as old as time) doesn’t really matter. It’s all about enjoying the food!

Image: Brad Switzer

When you think of Thanksgiving, certain elements just pop into your mind, right? The cornucopia—or "horn of plenty"—is one of them. It’s one of Thanksgiving’s most iconic images, typically shown overflowing with autumn fruits and vegetables.

The origins of the cornucopia trace back to classical mythology and a goat named Amalthaea, whose horn was said to produce endless food and drink. Adopted as a symbol of Thanksgiving, the cornucopia represents abundance and the generous gifts of the season.

The word itself combines the Latin terms cornu ("horn") and copia ("plenty"). First recorded in English in the late 1500s, cornucopia has come to represent overflowing harvests and hearty feasts.

Image: Capstone Events

Before it became a popular Thanksgiving 5K race, the Turkey Trot was actually a quirky dance—and it still is! This lively jig first appeared in the early 1900s and featured a bouncy, almost prancing step, with dancers moving their shoulders up and down in sync.

Today’s Turkey Trot usually refers to a 5K race held on Thanksgiving morning, but whether it’s a race or a dance, the joyful spirit is the same. Both let your body move and feel free, right before you stuff it with a delicious meal!

Image: Natasha Arefyeva

We may not do any actual harvesting on Thanksgiving today, but the holiday is still all about celebrating the harvest, even if most of us now gather goodies from the supermarket rather than the fields.

The word harvest, which dates back to before the year 950, originally referred to the season of gathering crops. It was a major event in every agricultural society, marking the time to prepare for the colder months ahead. The Old English word _hærfest_—a cousin of the German Herbst, meaning "autumn"—evolved into the word we use today.

Harvest time was once a communal event, when families and neighbors worked together to bring in crops before winter. Today, we simply prepare to enjoy a cozy evening surrounded by loved ones.

Image: Megan Watson

No article about Thanksgiving would be complete without a reference to gratitude. After all, at its core, Thanksgiving is all about that, and the word has been part of the English language since the early 1400s.

Gratitude is more than just saying "thank you"; it reflects a genuine appreciation for the people, privileges, and joys in our lives. It’s also a tradition—and a cherished part of the evening—to take a moment to share the things we’re grateful for.

For example, we’re thankful for our readers. What about you?

Image: Alfred Schrock

Nothing says autumn quite like a gourd—or should we say gourds? After all, they come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. These hard-shelled beauties are often confused with squashes, though gourds are usually reserved for decoration rather than dinner.

The word gourd dates back to the late 13th century, with roots in Middle English and Old French (gourde or coorde). Unlike pumpkins or butternut squash, gourds are typically hollow with a tough outer shell—perfect for fall displays but a bit tricky to eat. They may not end up on the Thanksgiving table, but they definitely help set the scene for the season.

Image: Claudio Schwarz

If your family has a "who gets the drumstick" showdown every Thanksgiving, you’re not alone—we all respect our traditions. This meaty turkey leg gets its name from its resemblance to a real drumstick, the kind musicians use.

The term has been around since the late 1600s, when people began noticing that a fowl’s leg looked a lot like the stick used to beat a drum. These days, nobody really thinks about the resemblance—we all just agree that a good drumstick is a prize at the Thanksgiving table.

For many, snagging the drumstick feels like winning a little Thanksgiving victory—and maybe a sign that the odds are in your favor for the rest of the day!

Image: Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦

Traditionally, Thanksgiving is a time to spend with family, but these days, it’s increasingly common to celebrate with your chosen family for special events. And by chosen family, of course, we mean friends. That’s where Friendsgiving comes in.

This gathering has grown in popularity over the past few decades, and the best part is that Friendsgiving often happens a day or two before Thanksgiving. That means people can celebrate with their close friends before heading off to family gatherings.

Thanks to this, we must admit, we get the best of both worlds. Friends are family too, don’t you think?

Image: Ashim D’Silva

Yeah, yeah, we all know turkey and love it—it’s the main course, the number one option for any family during Thanksgiving. But hear us out: deboned turkey stuffed with a deboned duck, which is stuffed with a deboned chicken—would you be willing to try that?

That’s turducken! The word turducken is a blend (or portmanteau, to be specific) of turkey, duck, and chicken. Though turkey usually reigns supreme, turducken has gained popularity among anyone looking to impress with something bold and hearty. We’ve never tried it, but we’re definitely impressed already!