The strangest words in the English language

northwest Career College ^ | Updated February 25, 2025 | Dr. Thomas Kenny

[kawhill]

The strangest words in the English language Cattywampus Originating in the Colonial United states and still used in the deep South, cattywampus means something that is in disarray, that is askew, or something that isn’t directly across from something.

[LittleBillyInfidel]

Gerrymandering is named after a governor of Massachusetts, Elbridge Gerry. He created a district that looked like a salamander, hence the word gerrymander. He also had a street named after him in Cambridge, Gerry’s Landing.

That's so funny! As soon as I posted the word, I just knew that someone would be presumptuous enough to give us the definition history. You won!

[skepsel]

Absotively, posilutely!

[skepsel]

So they had a pit to poss in and a window to throw it out?

[Sirius Lee]

So they had a pit to poss in and a window to throw it out?

Quicker than having the skip to the loo, my darling.

[skepsel]

My foreign born stepfather always said he was going to take a snap-cat when he was tired.😄

[Delta 21]

Thats gotta give you one hell of a backdraft if the wind isnt right. Better check the weather before. I bet them castle walls are cold on gentile skin.

[Delta 21]

I use ‘misunderestimate’ all the time.

[Albion Wilde]

Thats gotta give you one hell of a backdraft if the wind isnt right.

LOL!! And castles were known for their cold, damp draftiness...

[jmacusa]

Another expression is “Went the day well?’’

[jmacusa]

Thank you for that info. So much of our language is of Germanic origin. In fact, in looking at the composition of the English I’d venture it’s really three languages” Latin, Gallic, and Germanic.

Consider this sentence in English: “Lets look at the manual and see if we can get a handle on this, if not we’ll call maintenance’’.

Three words, ‘’manual;(’’mano’’) ‘’handle’’(hand) and ‘’maintenance’’.

All three mean the word ‘’hand’’.

In order of language: Latin, Germanic, and Gallic’’.

[Menes]

Yes, it’s just amazing indeed, that the English language has sprung from so many different sources.

But that is the reason, that the English language has the largest vocabulary of all known languages; which is an enormous benefit to any author using it, whether for scientific purposes or for poetry and fiction 🙂

The only drawback is, especially for non-native speakers, sometimes little nuances in the meaning of words might escape the attention of the reader/listener -especially if English is not his native language…

Have a pleasant, blessed Sunday, Jmacusa 🙂

[MayflowerMadam]

I worked with a lady engineer from Peru, and she was upset about something crazy she had been told. Our boss said, “Oh, he’s just pulling your leg.” She said, “No. He never touched me!”

[mass55th]

"Another expression is “Went the day well?’’"

Hadn't heard that one...thanks.

[Menes]

😀😀😀

That’s the problem with idioms in a foreign language. Or maybe she was a little autistic…autistics tend to take idioms sometimes literally. I can testify to that fact 🙂

[MayflowerMadam]

She wasn’t autistic. Just naive. A kick-ass over-achieving Engineer.

[jmacusa]

Thank you Menes, a blessed and happy Sunday to you too.