I know it originates from "head shrinking", but it doesn't help me a lot to understand the etymology. Why are psychiatrists called that? Is it like "my head is swollen [from anguish, misery, stress...

Aug 13, 2018 · Why does English use "No." as an abbreviation for "Number"? It's a preserved scribal abbreviation like the ampersand & (formed by eliding the letters of et to mean and). The OED has it …

Dec 21, 2010 · Why is the word "pants" plural? Ask Question Asked 14 years, 11 months ago Modified 4 years, 1 month ago

As to why ounce/uncia is "1/12th", that is related to the Roman system of measurement. Duodecimal systems were not infrequently used around the Mediterranean, but the exact development and origin …

As Jimi Oke points out, it doesn't matter what letter the word starts with, but what sound it starts with. Since "usual" starts with a 'y' sound, it should take 'a' instead of 'an'. Also, If you say "today was an …

It seems as if a shift occurred and the descriptive "Oriental" was replaced by "Asian" as the accepted term in polite society — what caused this shift?

Apr 6, 2014 · Why did the English and Americans freely adopt "old" to describe Satan and not God? Were the nicknames Old Nick, Old Bogey, Old Scratch etc. meant to be jocular, fearful or derogatory …

Why do we call our lovers "baby"? Ask Question Asked 14 years, 9 months ago Modified 12 years, 1 month ago

Sep 26, 2018 · As to why someone would avoid the use of Daddy, other than family culture (my parents were always Mom and Dad; I have no idea why), well, yes, there could be some confusion, but I …

Mar 14, 2015 · Why do people say 'buck' for a dollar? Ask Question Asked 10 years, 9 months ago Modified 7 years, 2 months ago