Surprising Origins of Everyday English Words

The English language has borrowed liberally from Latin, French, Germanic, and dozens of other languages over centuries. Salary derives from the Latin salarium, referring to Roman soldiers allowance for buying salt. Disaster combines the Latin dis (bad) and aster (star), literally meaning bad star - reflecting the ancient belief that celestial events caused calamity. Mortgage comes from Old French meaning death pledge, because the deal dies when paid off or when payment fails. Quarantine originates from quarantina, the 40-day isolation period for ships during the plague. Avocado comes from Nahuatl ahuacatl, which also meant testicle. Clue evolved from clew, a ball of yarn used to navigate the labyrinth in Greek mythology.