After living in Great Britain for two years, there are a few “British English” words, differing from the American lexicon, which tend to frustrate and annoy the mind. This article examines the etymology and use of six words and their anti-cognate.
British English is a soupçon of a rather peculiar nomenclature, encapsulated within an eclectic lexicon, known simply as English. In the United Kingdom, a ‘ladybug’ is known as a ‘ladybird’, the etymological reference being the Virgin Mary, who was commonly depicted in Middle Age paintings as wearing a red cloak. The American English common term is more secular and acknowledges the important fact that the Coccinellidae is a bug and not a bird. It only seems logical that as our understanding of natural science and taxonomy evolves and develops, then so must our primitive language.
In regards to ‘coriander’, the Brits seem to have the historically accurate name, as the Latin word, coriandrum, which is still used today as the name of the genus in the scientific classification. The American word, ‘cilantro’, is derived from the plant’s Spanish name, which was mentioned in the Thebes Medical Papyrus of B.C.1552. In Latin America and the US, cilantro is widely used in salsa, guacamole, pico de gallo, et cetera.
While on the topic of culinary vocabulary the Americans are spot on by calling a ‘zucchini’ a zucchini and not a ‘courgette’. The word comes from the Italian word, ‘zucchino’, which means small squash. Interestingly, the modern Zucchini was developed in Italy, after Christopher Columbus brought seeds back with him to the Mediterranean region. The term squash comes from the Native American word, ‘skutasquash’, meaning “green thing eaten green”. The British adopted the French word, Courgette, which literally means small vegetable marrow or gourd, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, and is often used interchangeably to describe yellow squash, gourds, and small fruits. Zucchini is an essential ingredient in ratatouille, though the recipe will call for Courgette, which isn’t really a specific vegetable at all.
The word ‘egg-plant’ may sound like a rather peculiar name for what the British call ‘aubergine’, however the American entomology does possess a logical rationale. Egg-plant is a popular name for the Solanum esculentum and was originally called such as the white-fruited variety resembles an oversize egg. The term was later extended to the purple variety. ‘Aubergine’ comes from French and finds its lexiconic roots in Catalan (albergínia), Arabic (بادنجان), and Persian (بادنجان). Neither English Language variation can be traced back to the Latin, though the French probably have a greater claim, than the American word which describes the visual representation of the vegetable.
In July 2007, the headlines of many London newspapers contained reports of UK Cabinet ministers admitting to having smoked cannabis during university. The term ‘cannabis’ comes from the Latin genus Cannabis sativa, which is common hemp of the Moraceæ herb family famous for its intoxicating or hallucinogenic properties, which at one time were considered relevant for medical treatment, but along with alcohol, tobacco et alii illicit or regulated drugs has been made obsolete by science and education. Prior to the '“Cabinet is going to Pot” row', Americans strictly referred to cannabis as ‘marijuana’. The term comes from Spanish and alludes to a prisoner and refers to the intoxicating, calmative or addictive effect. Various spellings abound, though the “j” in marijuana is a direct result of the French influence in the Western Hemisphere.
The realm of mountaineering vocabulary sees a fascinating oxymoron, as the British word ‘abseiling’ is a derivative of the German word, ‘abseilen’, meaning to descend a rock face using a rope. In the 1600s, the word was used to describe the lowing of a condemned person, who was tied with a rope at the hands. The Americans use the French word, ‘rappel’, to describe the ‘technique of descending a steep rock face by means of a doubled rope fixed above the climber’ (Oxford English Dictionary). Traditionally, the American etymology has tended to acquire dictionary entries from a myriad of sources, whereas the British lexicon has heavily favoured French and contains roughly 10,000 true cognates. The irony of abseiling is that it deviates from the Franco-Anglo tradition, in-support of the German origin, whereas the term ‘rappel’ is a true cognate from its Franco roots.
Lastly, it’s Australian Doubles, not American Doubles (as the British and other European like to say) in regards to the tennis match, whereby two players compete again one. Players rotate court position after every game and each player plays doubles and singles over the course of a match, with the singles player always serving. This modified tennis game was developed in Australia in the 1970s and subsequently became popularized in the United States and Canada.
Zucchini = Courgette
Cilantro = Coriander
Rappelling = Abseiling
Australian Doubles = American Doubles
Eggplant = Aubergine
Marijuana = Cannabis
These are obvious words which need to be redefined in the British dictionary to maintain a modern and intellectually evolving lexicon.
British English is a soupçon of a rather peculiar nomenclature, encapsulated within an eclectic lexicon, known simply as English. In the United Kingdom, a ‘ladybug’ is known as a ‘ladybird’, the etymological reference being the Virgin Mary, who was commonly depicted in Middle Age paintings as wearing a red cloak. The American English common term is more secular and acknowledges the important fact that the Coccinellidae is a bug and not a bird. It only seems logical that as our understanding of natural science and taxonomy evolves and develops, then so must our primitive language.
In regards to ‘coriander’, the Brits seem to have the historically accurate name, as the Latin word, coriandrum, which is still used today as the name of the genus in the scientific classification. The American word, ‘cilantro’, is derived from the plant’s Spanish name, which was mentioned in the Thebes Medical Papyrus of B.C.1552. In Latin America and the US, cilantro is widely used in salsa, guacamole, pico de gallo, et cetera.
While on the topic of culinary vocabulary the Americans are spot on by calling a ‘zucchini’ a zucchini and not a ‘courgette’. The word comes from the Italian word, ‘zucchino’, which means small squash. Interestingly, the modern Zucchini was developed in Italy, after Christopher Columbus brought seeds back with him to the Mediterranean region. The term squash comes from the Native American word, ‘skutasquash’, meaning “green thing eaten green”. The British adopted the French word, Courgette, which literally means small vegetable marrow or gourd, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, and is often used interchangeably to describe yellow squash, gourds, and small fruits. Zucchini is an essential ingredient in ratatouille, though the recipe will call for Courgette, which isn’t really a specific vegetable at all.
The word ‘egg-plant’ may sound like a rather peculiar name for what the British call ‘aubergine’, however the American entomology does possess a logical rationale. Egg-plant is a popular name for the Solanum esculentum and was originally called such as the white-fruited variety resembles an oversize egg. The term was later extended to the purple variety. ‘Aubergine’ comes from French and finds its lexiconic roots in Catalan (albergínia), Arabic (بادنجان), and Persian (بادنجان). Neither English Language variation can be traced back to the Latin, though the French probably have a greater claim, than the American word which describes the visual representation of the vegetable.
In July 2007, the headlines of many London newspapers contained reports of UK Cabinet ministers admitting to having smoked cannabis during university. The term ‘cannabis’ comes from the Latin genus Cannabis sativa, which is common hemp of the Moraceæ herb family famous for its intoxicating or hallucinogenic properties, which at one time were considered relevant for medical treatment, but along with alcohol, tobacco et alii illicit or regulated drugs has been made obsolete by science and education. Prior to the '“Cabinet is going to Pot” row', Americans strictly referred to cannabis as ‘marijuana’. The term comes from Spanish and alludes to a prisoner and refers to the intoxicating, calmative or addictive effect. Various spellings abound, though the “j” in marijuana is a direct result of the French influence in the Western Hemisphere.
The realm of mountaineering vocabulary sees a fascinating oxymoron, as the British word ‘abseiling’ is a derivative of the German word, ‘abseilen’, meaning to descend a rock face using a rope. In the 1600s, the word was used to describe the lowing of a condemned person, who was tied with a rope at the hands. The Americans use the French word, ‘rappel’, to describe the ‘technique of descending a steep rock face by means of a doubled rope fixed above the climber’ (Oxford English Dictionary). Traditionally, the American etymology has tended to acquire dictionary entries from a myriad of sources, whereas the British lexicon has heavily favoured French and contains roughly 10,000 true cognates. The irony of abseiling is that it deviates from the Franco-Anglo tradition, in-support of the German origin, whereas the term ‘rappel’ is a true cognate from its Franco roots.
Lastly, it’s Australian Doubles, not American Doubles (as the British and other European like to say) in regards to the tennis match, whereby two players compete again one. Players rotate court position after every game and each player plays doubles and singles over the course of a match, with the singles player always serving. This modified tennis game was developed in Australia in the 1970s and subsequently became popularized in the United States and Canada.
Zucchini = Courgette
Cilantro = Coriander
Rappelling = Abseiling
Australian Doubles = American Doubles
Eggplant = Aubergine
Marijuana = Cannabis
These are obvious words which need to be redefined in the British dictionary to maintain a modern and intellectually evolving lexicon.
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