You won't believe where the word "dude" actually came from

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.

Bad picks from the forest

Deadly fungi: 10 poisonous mushrooms you don't want to mess with

Image: LoggaWiggler

Going mushroom hunting in the woods during the fall or spring can be a fun and rewarding activity. However, it is important to first learn how to differentiate between edible and poisonous fungi. Depending on the species, mushrooms can pose different dangers. Some may cause minor indigestion, while others can be fatal. In this article, we’ll unmask 10 dangerous mushrooms you should stay away from. Do you know which species is responsible for the most mushroom-related fatalities each year?

Image: Andriy Nestruiev

When we think of mushrooms, the first image that often comes to mind is a cute little red cap covered in white dots. Amanita muscaria is the classic mushroom found in children's books and is likely the most photographed mushroom in the world. But did you know it can be dangerous?

This mushroom’s colloquial name, fly agaric, probably derives from its traditional use as a fly killer. It has also been used throughout history in religious rites for its hallucinogenic properties. However, the presence of several toxins can produce other effects as well, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Although it is not the most poisonous of all mushrooms, it’s best not to be seduced by its charming appearance—stay away from it.

Image: mirey2222

Cortinarius orellanus is a medium-sized mushroom with a cylindrical yellowish stem, an orange-brown cap, saffron-colored gills, and yellowish flesh. Commonly known as the fool’s webcap, it is native to Europe and is typically found in mountain forests. It prefers moist, organic-rich soils and is most prevalent during the summer and fall months.

The fool’s webcap is one of the most poisonous mushrooms known to exist. It contains orellanin, a nephrotoxic compound that can cause severe kidney damage in humans. Symptoms of poisoning—including lower back pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea—can take several days to appear, making diagnosis and treatment especially difficult.

Image: adege

This species is considered one of the few toxic members of the Boletus genus. In the areas where it grows—warmer regions of Europe—it is feared for its poisonous effects, which appear shortly after ingestion. Although caution is warranted, it is not a deadly mushroom; however, it can cause dehydration, diarrhea, nausea, and severe abdominal pain.

Despite bearing some resemblance to edible mushrooms, its size often gives it away. Satan’s bolete can reach up to 20 inches in width, and it is not uncommon to find specimens weighing around 4.5 pounds. Its cap is beige, it has a bulbous red stem, its flesh is light yellow and turns blue when cut, and it emits a notably unpleasant odor.

Image: Hans

Psilocybe semilanceata, commonly known as the liberty cap, is a mushroom known for its psychotropic effects. It grows mainly in humid and temperate areas of the Northern Hemisphere, particularly in Europe. It has a distinctive nipple-shaped cap, and its color ranges from whitish when young to brown as it matures. The mushroom has a bitter taste.

Although the liberty cap is considered to have low toxicity, its ingestion can produce a range of effects, including altered perception of space and time. It may also cause temporary paranoia, with effects typically lasting between 3 and 6 hours. For this reason, its consumption is not recommended outside of a controlled environment.

Image: Erik Karits

Eating even a single piece of Amanita virosa can cause irreversible liver damage, and you should be especially careful because it can be easily mistaken for edible white-capped species.

In the eastern United States, the destroying angel appears from early summer to early autumn. It has a white cap that is initially ovoid and later flattens with age. The stalk is slender and covered with fine hairs, and it features a membranous ring. Despite its pleasant smell and reportedly good taste, this mushroom is extremely poisonous—ingesting it can result in death.

Image: ChristianSW, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

The false morel can be found in spring in coniferous forests. Its cap is brain-like, with intricate wrinkles and folds, and its color ranges from light brown to reddish brown depending on humidity.

Despite its scientific name—Gyromitra esculenta ("esculenta" meaning "edible")—the false morel is highly toxic unless properly prepared. In some individuals, it can be dangerous even after cooking; its toxins are volatile, and poisoning can occur by inhaling the fumes released during boiling. Nevertheless, the false morel remains a popular mushroom in some European countries, such as Finland, where it is used in certain traditional dishes. Would you dare to try it?

Image: PublicDomainPictures

Lepiota brunneoincarnata may be tiny in size, but it is unquestionably deadly. It’s important to be able to recognize this mushroom and exercise caution when encountering it in the wild. The good news is that its appearance differs significantly from most edible species, making it less likely to be confused with them.

Commonly known as the deadly dapperling, this mushroom is found throughout Europe and parts of Asia. It typically appears during the summer and autumn months in meadows, parks, gardens, shrublands, and along roadsides. It contains a toxin called amatoxin, which is absorbed through the digestive tract and can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, gastroenteritis, diarrhea, and vomiting. If not treated promptly, it can lead to death within a week.

Image: Vladimir Srajber

Galerina marginata, known colloquially as autumn skullcap, is found in coniferous forests across North America, Europe, Asia, Japan, and Australia. Although it can appear at various times of the year, it is most commonly found in autumn. It has a soft brownish color, and its cap surface is often slimy with a greasy appearance.

Like the deadly dapperling, the autumn skullcap contains amatoxins, which interfere with essential cellular functions. The first symptoms of poisoning appear 6 to 24 hours after ingestion. It can cause renal failure and eventually death if not treated within the first four days.

Image: Hans

Entoloma sinuatum is responsible for numerous cases of poisoning, as it can be mistaken for several edible species. At first glance, the body of the livid pinkgill looks like a classic field mushroom—its cap often displays a creamy light gray color. It typically grows in clay and limestone-rich soils, especially in beech and oak forests across Europe and parts of North America.

Although it does not have an unpleasant taste, you shouldn’t eat it. It can cause severe gastrointestinal disorders, including persistent diarrhea and vomiting, which may last for several days, and in some cases, up to two weeks.

Image: adege

The death cap (Amanita phalloides) accounts for the vast majority of mushroom poisoning deaths worldwide—hence its name. Consuming less than 2 ounces of this mushroom is enough to be fatal; an even smaller dose can kill a child and cause severe poisoning in adults.

Native to the United Kingdom and parts of Ireland, the death cap has rapidly spread over the past century to Australia and North America. It can grow up to 6 inches tall and has a domed cap sometimes tinged yellow or green, along with a white stem, which makes it difficult to distinguish from some edible mushrooms. Even its spores are poisonous. Therefore, if you have handled a death cap, avoid touching your mouth and always wash your hands thoroughly before eating.