ArcaMax

Did you know there's a donkey behind "easel"? This word for a frame supporting an artist's canvas comes from the Dutch word "ezel," meaning "an ass or donkey."

The Dutch called the easel a "donkey" because, like a beast of burden, it lugged the artist's canvas from one spot to another. (I can't help wondering whether Dutch donkeys sometimes stood still near scenic spots, hoping that an "ass"piring Rembrandt would hang a canvas on them and start painting.)

Another word derived from animals is "recalcitrant," meaning "obstinate, refractory." The Latin verb "recalcitrare," formed from "re-" (back) and "calx" (heel), meant "to kick back like a defiant horse." In Late Latin, "recalcitrare" was extended to humans and came to mean "to resist, to be obstinate."

"Recalcitrare" first entered English during the mid-1800s as the adjective "recalcitrant." And to this day, public officials accused of receiving "kickbacks" are recalcitrant when it comes to answering questions.

Speaking of filthy lucre, among the ancient Romans, cattle ("pecus") were a primary source of wealth, thus "pecus" was the root of the Latin noun "peculium," meaning "private property." "Peculium" gave us four English words related to money -- "pecuniary," "impecunious" (penniless), "peculate" (to embezzle) and "speculate."

Soon the Latin adjective "pecularis" arose, meaning "related to private property" and, by extension, "extraordinary" (because private property was considered special, exclusively one's own).

Thus, when English adopted "pecularis" as "peculiar" during the 1400s, something peculiar happened: The connection with private property vanished, and "peculiar" came to mean "distinctive, unique," and, eventually, "odd or strange."

And, while you're ruminating about all this, here's something to chew on.

Certain animals, such as cows, sheep, camels and deer, chew their cud. That is, they swallow some of the grass they've bit off, store it in a special stomach, and later bring it back up to chew it.

The Latin word for this special stomach or throat was "rumen," which is why we call these animals "ruminants."

I hate to bring this up again, but the animals' leisurely masticating of regurgitated grass, as well as the faraway look in their eyes as they did so, reminded the Romans of human beings chewing over their thoughts.

So the Latin "ruminari" came to mean "to ponder," giving us the English verb "ruminate." Think it over -- and over and over.

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Rob Kyff, a teacher and writer in West Hartford, Connecticut, invites your language sightings. His book, "Mark My Words," is available for $9.99 on Amazon.com. Send your reports of misuse and abuse, as well as examples of good writing, via email to WordGuy@aol.com or by regular mail to Rob Kyff, Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM

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