Buzz
"Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry."
— Ecclesiastes 8:15
When it comes to feasting and toasting, no holiday in America beats Thanksgiving. But just as a rose would still have its fragrance no matter the name, what about a marshwort?
Discover the fascinating and rare histories behind ten popular Thanksgiving terms.
10. Laughter and Joy
Both 'mirth' and 'merry' originate from an Old English term signifying 'joy' or 'pleasure.' These words themselves trace back to an even older German root, which means 'short-lived.' Consequently, something merry is fleeting—though its effects might last longer.
In the 17th century, the term 'merry' could carry decidedly more risqué meanings, such as referring to a merry round of sexual activity. Sometimes, such a merry round could lead to a 'merry-begot,' an illegitimate child. Yet, given that 12% of all infants in the 17th century perished in their first year, perhaps a merry-begot was indeed a momentary joy.
9. Wishbone
I’ve observed that a shooting star can disrupt a peaceful night’s sleep; and I’ve seen someone in love become pale, losing their appetite when a merry-thought is taken away.
— The Right Honorable Joseph Addison
The term 'merry' also gave rise to the term 'merrythought', which is now known as the wishbone. The tradition of breaking the wishbone dates back at least to the Romans, and may have originated from the Etruscan practice of alectryomancy, a method of divining the future using the clavicles of roosters.
Roman mythology suggests that the Etruscans chose the wishbone due to its 'V' shape, which was thought to resemble the human groin, a symbol of life. Consequently, the wishbone was believed to be a fitting tool to uncover life’s secrets. The bone’s resemblance to a woman's genitalia is also said to be why it came to be called 'merrythought.'
During the 17th century, people sometimes believed that the person who ended up with the longer part of the merrythought would marry first, playing on words in a witty way. Alternatively, it was thought that the one with the longer piece would have the power to make a wish of their choosing, a tradition that became well-established by the 19th century. English settlers carried this practice to the New World, and today we continue the custom of pulling apart the wishbone.
8. Fork
The bone we pull apart during Thanksgiving, whether it's known as a merrythought or a wishbone, is properly called a "furcula." This term is derived from the Latin word "furca," meaning "pitchfork." Before it came to refer to a two-pronged utensil, the term was used in England to describe a forked device used by torturers. So, after indulging in too many mashed potatoes, you might want to avoid saying, "stick a fork in me, I’m done."
Although the fork is an obvious utensil today, it wasn’t used for eating until the eighth or ninth century, and even then, only by the nobility in regions that are now part of the Middle East. Popular legend claims that Catherine dei Medici brought the fork to France from Italy after marrying King Henry I of France in the 16th century. However, the word for a table fork appeared in English over a hundred years before that.
7. Beer / Ale
The word "beer" may also come from the Latin verb bibere, meaning "to drink." However, it's possible that the word beer comes from an ancient Germanic term for barley, the grain from which it is most often brewed. This theory, though, is debated, as the Germanic word for beer was aluth, from which we get the English word "ale."
The origins of aluth itself are uncertain. One possibility is that it derives from an Indo-European root meaning "bitter." Another theory suggests that it comes from alu, a root linked to sorcery, magic, or possession. So, if your annoying Uncle Al spills a cold beer on you during the game, just grin and tell him it’s spellbinding. Interestingly, ale also gave us the English word "bridal," as in the Middle Ages, the word "ale" referred to a celebration. A bridal ale was a feast held to honor a marriage, typically followed by a lively party.
6. Thanksgiving
As we reflect on happy thoughts, let's explore the word "Thanksgiving" itself. The "thank" in Thanksgiving originates from the same Germanic root as "think"—think, thank, thunk (which was once proper English). While we no longer use the "thunk" form in "think," we still use it in words like "drink" and "clink." However, it's important to note that the word "thunk," meaning "thud," is a more recent blend of "thud" and "clunk" from the mid-20th century.
Over time, the "thank" version of "think" evolved to express positive thoughts and, eventually, gratitude. So, if you find the turkey delicious, don't forget to give thanks—otherwise, your hostess might think her meal went "thunk."
5. Turkey
The first Europeans to encounter what we now call a turkey were likely Christopher Columbus and the crew of his fourth voyage to the Americas. They referred to the bird as gallina de la tierra, which translates to "land chicken."
The term "turkey" is a shortened form of "Turkey cock," originally referring to the guinea fowl. The reasons behind using "turkey" to describe a bird native to America are unclear, but one theory suggests that it was brought to England via Turkey. The Pilgrims in the New World mistakenly identified the land chicken with the bird they knew as a turkey, thus giving it the name. Although turkeys were commonly eaten by early American settlers, they only became a Thanksgiving staple around the mid-19th century.
4. Sage
Sage is often associated with Thanksgiving, but its primary historical use has been medicinal. This is reflected in its botanical name, Salvia officinalis, derived from the Latin "salvus," meaning "healthy," which also gave us the word "safe." Sage has been used to treat various ailments, including inflamed gums, excessive sweating, memory loss, depression, sore throat, swollen sinuses, acne, toenail fungus, hot flashes, and painful menstruation. Since it also aids in alleviating diarrhea, gas, and bloating, it’s the ideal herb for a holiday that often leads to overindulgence.
The word 'sage' meaning 'wise' is not related to the herb. This form of sage actually originates from a Latin root meaning 'to taste.' When you take all three definitions of the word into account, sage at your Thanksgiving meal becomes not only delicious and healthy, but also wise.
3. Tofurky
In keeping with the vegetarians, we finish with Tofurky, a turkey alternative introduced in 2000 by Turtle Island Foods. Tofurky is made from tofu, wheat gluten, oil, and 'natural flavors,' including certain yeasts, which give it a 'meaty' flavor.
Tofu, for those unfamiliar with it, is a form of fermented soy bean curd. It’s known for being rich in protein and has the unique quality of soaking up the flavors of whatever it’s cooked with. Despite its health benefits, it might be best not to dwell on the origins of the word itself—which literally translates to “rotten beans,” a term borrowed from the Chinese words dou for “beans” and fu for “rotten.”
On that cheerful note, have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Jackie, a former journalist and blogger for the Huffington Post, is passionate about exploring word origins and medieval history. You can check out some of her writing on jackiefoxdotnet.wordpress.com.
2. Marshmallows
Although cranberries don’t actually thrive in marshes, the plant known as the marsh mallow, or marshmallow, does. Its scientific name, Althea officinalis, comes from the Greek word althein, which means “to heal.”
For over two millennia, marshmallow has served as both a medicinal remedy and a food. The plant’s root and leaves contain a gummy substance called mucilage. When combined with water, it forms a slippery gel that coats the throat and stomach, easing irritation. In the 19th century, people would extract juice from marshmallow roots, then cook it with egg whites and sugar. The resulting mixture was whipped into a frothy meringue, allowed to harden, and transformed into a medicinal candy designed to soothe sore throats.
Today’s mass-produced marshmallow candies don’t actually contain any marshmallow at all. Instead, these modern marshmallows are thickened with gelatin, which strips away their original medicinal properties, making them unsuitable for vegetarians.
1. Cranberries
No Thanksgiving feast is truly complete without a serving of cranberry sauce or jelly. The “cran” in “cranberry” is linked to the bird known as the crane, possibly due to the resemblance between the plant’s stamen and the crane’s beak.
Cranberries don’t actually grow in water, as many believe, but in bogs. They’re sometimes called bogberries, and less commonly, fenberries or marshworts. While they grow in bogs, cranberries are often floated in water during harvesting to make the process easier and to ensure they receive more sunlight. This extra sunlight encourages cranberries to produce higher levels of anthocyanins, the phytonutrients thought to give cranberries their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. Cranberries are widely used as a treatment for urinary tract infections and are believed by some to help prevent cancer.
