Every day we uncover the hidden history of one word. Here’s today’s — and the ones you may have missed.
Thursday, 1 October 2026
A long curved tropical fruit.
Portuguese traders in West Africa likely picked up the word from a local language such as Wolof, and it spread into Spanish and English by the late 1500s.
Did you know? Botanically, a banana is a berry.
Wednesday, 30 September 2026
yoga — “union, yoking”
A practice of posture, breath and meditation.
ExploreTuesday, 29 September 2026
avatāra — “descent”
An online persona or embodiment of an idea.
ExploreMonday, 28 September 2026
petra “stone” + ichor “fluid of the gods”
The earthy smell after rain.
ExploreSunday, 27 September 2026
John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich
Food placed between slices of bread.
ExploreSaturday, 26 September 2026
musculus — “little mouse”
Tissue that contracts to move the body.
ExploreFriday, 25 September 2026
vainilla “little pod”, from vaina “sheath”
A flavouring from orchid seed pods.
Explore