From Whence Comes Pepper
Black pepper was valued for two main reasons. One, it helped preserve foods in the pre-refrigeration era. And two, the long distance it traveled to get to European kitchens made it pricey.
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We’ve all had the experience of suddenly wondering why something is referred to into a particular way, how things work, or where something comes from. In this series, I’ve used the inter-tubes to find what I can about a particular nagging question.
Why Golf Courses Have 18 Holes
Golf courses didn’t always have 18 holes. The number of holes used to vary widely: 11, 22, 24, etc. As with most golf tradition-related questions, the reason why 18 became the standard goes back to St. Andrews of Scotland, the granddaddy of all golf courses.
Read moreWhat Does Esquire Mean?
The original title, Esquire, comes from the Middle Ages — an esquire was the rank above a gentleman, and below a knight. The word derives from the Latin scutum (shield), and Middle English esquier (shield bearer). It was also generally applied to upstanding members of society: judges, sheriffs, lawyers, professors.
Read moreWhat Is The Ark of the Covenant
In the Biblical book of Exodus, the ark is introduced as the “ark of testimony.” God gives precise instructions to the Israelites for building this small box or chest out of wood. It was covered in gold, and on the lid were two golden cherubim with their wings facing each other to form an enclosed area.
Read moreCan One Literally Die From Laughter?
It’s certainly possible to die while laughing — probably by choking on something. But I was unable to find any documented evidence of someone literally “laughing to death.”
Read moreWhat Does The “Rx” Sign Mean?
Once again, we can blame Latin for a curious term. In English, “Rx” doesn’t seem to have any connection to “pharmacy.” However it does in Latin, albeit in a roundabout way.
Read moreEver Wonder Who Wrote Happy Birthday To You?
No birthday party is complete without cake, candles, and a performance of “Happy Birthday to You.” The song is quick, painless, and everyone knows the words. But while the lyrics are familiar to all, their author remains a mystery.
Read moreWhy Dogs Don’t Live As Long As People
“People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?” The four-year-old continued, “Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”
Read moreFor Whom is Geoge Mason University Named?
Thanks to the basketball team’s success, many are eager to know more about the school — specifically, who was George Mason and why does he have a university named after him?
Read moreWhere Do Queen Bees Come From?
When bees need a new queen, special “queen cells” are made in the hive. Zoo.org describes these cells as extensions of the wax and shaped like a peanut. Young worker bees secrete a special food called “royal jelly,” and place it in the queen cells as food for the special larvae.
Read moreWhere Did “That’s All She Wrote” Come From?
When we think of a person saying “that’s all she wrote,” we usually picture someone who’s disappointed for some reason.
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