12 English Words That Have Fascinating Origins

Words are like little time travelers: they change and adapt over the years. Some of the words we use today don’t mean what they used to.

Take the word “troll,” for example. You’ve probably seen it in the comments section online, where it’s used to describe someone who intentionally stirs up trouble. But did you know that “troll” used to refer to a mythical creature – a giant monster who caused problems for people?

There are plenty of other words with interesting histories, too. Let’s take a closer look at a few of them:

20 Words Invented by the Internet

Hey there! Did you know that the Oxford Dictionary Online (ODO) is always in the news for adding new words that people use a lot? Crazy, right?

Anyway, I’m here to tell you about some cool words that actually originated from the internet. Pretty neat, huh? Let’s dive in and check them out!

1. B side

Have you ever heard someone talk about the ‘B side’ of a record? Well, that term comes from the days when vinyl records were a big deal. On a vinyl record, the A side was the popular, well-known song, and the B side was usually a lesser-known tune.

2. Presentation deck / Slide deck

Have you ever seen a PowerPoint presentation? Of course, you have! Well, ‘presentation deck’ or ‘slide deck’ is just another way of saying that. It’s like a fancy way of talking about a bunch of slides with information on them.

3. Horsepower

When you think of horsepower, you might imagine real horses, right? But actually, the term ‘horsepower’ comes from the internet, specifically from the world of cars. It’s used to measure the power of a car’s engine. So, the more horsepower a car has, the faster it can go!

4. Blockbuster

You’ve probably heard the word blockbuster before, usually to describe a really successful movie. But did you know that the word actually originated from the internet? Back in the day, people used to rent movies from a store called Blockbuster. So, when a movie was a huge hit, people started calling it a blockbuster!

5. Dial a number

Nowadays, we use smartphones to make calls. But did you know there was a time when people had to physically dial a number on a phone? Crazy, right? Well, that’s where the phrase ‘dial a number’ comes from. It’s a reminder of how things used to be!

6. Mixtape

Have you ever made a mix of your favorite songs and given it to a friend? Well, that’s called a mixtape. It used to be a popular way of sharing music before the internet made it easy to stream songs. Pretty cool, huh?

And that’s it for now! These are just a few examples of words that originated from the internet. It’s amazing how language evolves, isn’t it? I can’t wait to see what new words the internet brings us in the future!

The Meaning of “Milestone”

Have you ever heard the word “milestone” and wondered what it meant? Well, let me fill you in!

A long time ago, people used the mile as a way to measure distance. Did you know that one mile is equal to 1.609 kilometers, 5280 feet, or 1760 yards? Pretty neat, huh?

Back then, a milestone was a little marker that they would put along the side of the road, especially on highways. These markers were super helpful for travelers because they showed them how much further they had to go to reach their destination. They could also show how far they had already traveled. It’s like having a little guide on your journey!

But milestones weren’t just for travelers. They were also handy for pinpointing specific locations on a road. For example, if there was an accident, people could use the milestones to tell others exactly where it happened. Talk about useful!

Nowadays, most countries use the metric system, which means they measure distances in kilometers instead of miles. So, kilometer markers have become more popular. But guess what? It’s still okay to call them “milestones”! Pretty nifty, right?

What It Means Now:

Milestone, in modern usage, refers to a noteworthy accomplishment or stage of progress. It signifies a measurement of advancement. Picture this: a little one who has just mastered the art of crawling is said to have reached a new milestone in their physical growth.

Similarly, a startup that has secured funding to embark on the next phase of expansion has also achieved its first milestone.

But let’s not forget the traditional meaning of “milestone” which refers to markers indicating specific locations (see below).

2. Footage

What is the meaning of “Footage”?

The term “Footage” comes from the days when movies were recorded on physical reels of film, which were measured in feet. For instance, a foot-long film on 35mm film, a popular film gauge, would contain 16 frames. This would amount to one second of imagery when played.

What does it mean now?

In the context of movies, “Footage” now refers to any recording, such as a photograph, video, or audio clip, that is used in a movie or an edited version of a video. It can also refer to the content that was captured in that recording.

3. CC and BCC

Image source: Holger Ellgaard

What do “CC and BCC” mean?

Have you ever wondered what “CC” and “BCC” mean when you see them in your email settings? Let me explain.

Back in the old days, before everything was digital, people used to make copies of documents using a special technique called carbon copying. They would place a sheet of carbon paper between the original document and a blank sheet, and then write or type on the top sheet. The pressure would transfer the writing onto the bottom sheet, creating an exact copy.

So when you hear someone talk about “CC,” they’re referring to carbon copy. This means that when you send an email, you can add other people to the CC field, and they will receive a copy of the email. It’s like making a carbon copy of a document and giving it to someone else.

But what about “BCC”? Well, BCC stands for blind carbon copy. This is a little different. When you add someone to the BCC field, they will receive a copy of the email, just like with CC. However, the difference is that the other recipients won’t know that this person has been included. It’s like secretly making a copy of the document without anyone else knowing.

Nowadays, we don’t use carbon copying for paper documents as much as we used to. Most things are digital, so we can just send an email to multiple recipients without needing to make physical copies. But the terms “CC” and “BCC” have stuck around, and we still use them to talk about sending copies of emails to multiple people.

In the days before digital communication, paper was the main medium for documenting information. In an office setting, typists would sometimes need to add extra names to memos without revealing the identities of certain recipients. To achieve this, the typist would manually type the additional names onto specific copies of the document, after making duplicates using carbon paper.

Today, these terms are commonly used in email communication. CC stands for “Carbon Copy,” while “BCC” stands for “Blind Carbon Copy.” These are additional input fields for email addresses, alongside the traditional “To” field. When you add email addresses to the CC field, everyone else on the same list will be able to see those names. However, when you add email addresses to the BCC field, those names will be hidden from everyone else.

When it comes to the term “CC,” there’s some debate. Some people believe it stands for “courtesy copy,” while others think it means “carbon copy.” There’s also the theory that it simply refers to “copies,” using double letters as a way to indicate plurality, like how “pp” stands for “pages.”

4. Movie trailer

What does “Movie trailer” even mean?

Right from the get-go, “trailers” always meant a sneak peek of an upcoming movie. But back in the day, it made more sense because they used to show them after a movie, trailing behind the main show instead of starting it like they do now.

However, by the late 1930s, movie studios figured out that trailers would have a bigger impact if they played before the movie. So they switched things up and started showing trailers before the main event.

The concept of movie trailers is said to have started around 1913, with the first known movie trailer being showcased in a theater for a Broadway musical called “The Pleasure Seekers.”

What it means today:

Imagine this: you’re sitting in a dark movie theater, eagerly awaiting the start of the film you came to see. But before the lights dim and the main feature begins, you’re treated to a special surprise – a sneak preview of an upcoming movie! This exciting event is called a movie trailer, and it’s a way for filmmakers to generate buzz and excitement for their films.

Nowadays, the term “trailer” is used for any kind of movie preview, even those that are shared online. It’s become a universal term that we all recognize and understand. So the next time you’re at the movies or browsing the internet, keep an eye out for those trailers – they’re a little taste of what’s to come!

What does “Blueprint” mean?

Let me tell you an interesting story about the origin of blueprints. Back in 1842, a clever individual named Sir John Herschel came up with a brilliant way to make copies of important documents. He called it “cyanotype.”

So here’s how it worked: Imagine you have a drawing on a special kind of transparent paper. To make a copy, you take another piece of paper and cover it with a special chemical solution that is very sensitive to light. The two papers are then placed on top of each other with the drawing facing down towards the chemically coated paper. This whole stack is then left outside in the sunlight for a short while.

And what happens next is really cool! The sunlight contains a type of light called ultraviolet light, which is able to make the chemical solution react and change color. The parts of the drawing that let the light pass through will turn blue on the bottom sheet, thanks to the chemical reaction. But those areas on the original drawing where the marks are too thick won’t let the light pass through, so they will stay white on the bottom sheet.

So here’s the deal: when you wash off that chemical stuff from the bottom sheet and let the paper dry, bam! You’ve got yourself a copy of the plan.

Nowadays, there are other ways to achieve the same thing, so this old-school method is pretty much obsolete. But for some reason, we still use the word “blueprint”. Go figure!

Nowadays, “blueprint” means:

Basically, it’s a fancy term for any plan or layout for a room, building, or yard. But most often, people use it to talk about technical drawings for architecture or engineering. Bet you’d be most likely to need a blueprint if you were buying a house or something.

6. The press

So, what exactly is meant by “The press”?

Back in the old days, news used to mainly spread through newspapers. Yup, those printed publications were all the rage. That’s why “the press” was usually just another way to talk about the newspaper biz. See, they used these things called printing presses to make their pages.

But what does it mean now?

These days, people often use the phrase “the press” to mean the same thing as “the media.” It’s all about the big players in the news world. That could mean anyone who produces mass media or works in the news industry. Basically, we’re talking about all the different ways news gets to you. That includes newspapers and magazines, but it also covers TV stations, radio, and even online news sites and blogs.

7. B side

What does “B side” mean?

Back in the old days of vinyl records, there were two sides: the “A side” and the “B side.” When you played a record, you had the choice to flip it over and listen to the other side. This other side, known as the “B side” or the “flipside,” had its own set of songs.

Originally, record companies would randomly assign songs to the A side or the B side. But eventually, a pattern emerged. The B side songs were usually ones that didn’t make it onto the album, weren’t considered radio-friendly, were alternate versions of songs on the album, or were just seen as inferior.

Nowadays, vinyl records are more like rare treasures for collectors rather than the primary way we listen to music. Because of this, the term “B side” isn’t used as much anymore. But it still holds onto some of its original meanings when it comes to describing certain types of music tracks.

Some people now believe that the “B” in “B side” actually stands for “bonus.” This is because music that fits the criteria of a B side is often referred to as “outtakes,” “exclusive” tracks, or “unreleased” tracks.

What it means now:

You’ve probably heard this phrase before when talking about music albums. It usually means extra music that isn’t part of the official album. This could be a different version or arrangement of a song that’s on the album, or it could be tracks that weren’t included at all.

Now let’s talk about presentation decks or slide decks.

What is a “Presentation deck”?

So, have you ever wondered what people mean when they talk about a “presentation deck”? I did some digging, and while it’s hard to pinpoint an exact origin, it seems like the term might have come from the days of old-fashioned slide projectors. You know, those machines that were used to display 35mm photographic film slides during presentations? Well, back then, these slides were organized in a tray that kind of looked like a deck of cards. And that’s how the name “presentation deck” came to be.

What does it mean today?

Nowadays, when people talk about a “presentation deck,” they’re usually referring to a collection of slides that are used for a formal presentation. Think of it like a Microsoft PowerPoint file that contains a whole bunch of slides. That’s an example of a presentation deck. And some folks even consider the printed version of those slides to be a slide deck too.

9. Horsepower

What Does “Horsepower” Mean?

So, let’s talk about this term “horsepower.” Have you ever wondered where it comes from and what it really means?

Well, it turns out that the concept of horsepower originated from James Watt, a clever Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer. He made significant improvements to the steam engine, and his brilliant mind also gave birth to another unit of measurement for power called the Watt, which was named after him.

Back in Watt’s time, horses were seen as the most powerful creatures around. They were incredibly valuable for their ability to generate power, especially in places like production mills. Imagine this: horses would be harnessed to a central mill shaft, and they would walk in circles to make things like grindstones and other machinery work. It was a pretty efficient setup, and horses were the go-to choice for this kind of work because they were affordable to buy and maintain.

Image source: The Virginia Settlement

I decided to measure the strength of my steam engine in terms of horsepower because that’s what we wanted to replace: horses. Using math, I figured out that a horse could move 33,000 pounds in one minute. So, that became the benchmark for one horsepower—pretty impressive, right?

To show off just how powerful my engines were, I started marketing them as having the strength of 200 horses combined. My idea caught on, and now the term “horsepower” is used all the time.

But what does it mean now? Well, it’s just a way to measure power, especially in engines. When it comes to electricity, one horsepower equals 746 Watts.

Okay, let’s move on to the next word: “blockbuster.”

What does “Blockbuster” mean?

In the 1940s, “blockbuster” referred to a powerful bomb used during World War II that could destroy entire blocks or streets of buildings. As time went on, this term started to be used in advertising to describe exceptional success in the mid to late 1940s.

Later on, “blockbuster” came to represent highly successful plays or films that outperformed and disrupted other competing production companies, effectively putting them out of business.

What does it mean today?

When we talk about successful movies, theatre productions, or games, we often use the term “blockbuster.” This word is used to describe something that is extremely popular and widely loved.

11. Call someone

What does “Call someone” mean?

Back in the day, people used a different kind of phone called a rotary phone. These phones had a circular dial with numbers from zero to nine. To make a call, you had to use your finger to spin the dial and select the numbers of the person you wanted to reach.

Back in the day, when I wanted to make a phone call, each number had a little hole on top. It was like a secret code just waiting to be deciphered. To dial a number, I would stick my finger in the hole and give the disk a spin, going clockwise until I reached the end. Then I would let go and move on to the next digit. It was a rhythmic dance, a symphony of my own making.

But now, things have changed. These days, we use keypads to punch in the numbers or names we want to call. Whether it’s a physical keypad or a virtual one on our screens, it’s a world away from the old dial. So why do we still say we’re “dialing” a number?

12. Mixtape

What does “Mixtape” really mean?

Let’s go back in time to the 1980s when mixtapes were all the rage. People like you and me, who loved music, would create their very own mixtapes using cassette tapes. It was the golden age of cassette tape players, including the iconic Sony Walkman (may it rest in peace).

As technology advanced, cassette tapes gave way to CDs and later to digital music files like MP3s. But don’t worry, mixtapes didn’t disappear. They just transformed into newer formats to keep up with the times.

Now, here’s where things get interesting. In the world of hip-hop music, the term “mixtape” had a slightly different meaning. Way back in the 1970s, mixtapes were recordings of DJs’ performances that eager fans would tape themselves. And then, in the 1980s, the DJs themselves started recording their own shows and selling those tapes.

In the year 2000, hip hop artists started using mixtapes as a way to grab the attention of record labels and connect with fans on a more personal level. DJs would usually host these mixtapes, which featured rap material that wasn’t really fit for radio play. Even popular hip hop artists would release mixtapes with their own original songs, and they would give them out to fans for free. Nowadays, you can mostly find these mixtapes on the internet.

What it means now:

Nowadays, a mixtape is generally understood as a curated collection of songs where the person who created it is known. Some people use this as a way to distinguish mixtapes from other music compilations where the creator is unknown or doesn’t reveal themselves.