I've heard the story of the word "quiz". Have you? If not, here it is...
It is said that it all started with two upper class gents talking with each other over a drink; one of them made a bet with the other that he could bring a new word into the English language overnight. That word would be "quiz" - and the one who made the bet went around writing the word "quiz" on walls everywhere. And everyone was like, " 'Quiz'? What does that mean?" Actually, I don't know how the story ends; and I don't know whether the guy won his bet or not...
But whether he did or not, the word "quiz" for what it is today, has "question" traits attached to it - like it were supposed to carry implications of mystery. But the thing is, the guy who made the bet in this story, never said that he was trying to coin a new word which was supposed to carry a specific meaning...
And now for the question I have intended all along: what will be the story behind the next big slang or swear word?
Sunday, 9 August 2009
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