Did the word shyster come from Shakespeare’s Shy-lock?
No, the word shyster did not come from Shakespeare’s Shy-lock.
It came from a Mr. Scheuster, an unscrupulous American criminal lawyer in the 1840s.
No, the word shyster did not come from Shakespeare’s Shy-lock.
It came from a Mr. Scheuster, an unscrupulous American criminal lawyer in the 1840s.
An aglet. The metal hoop that supports a lampshade? A harp. The indentation at the bottom of a wine bottle? A kick or a punt.
A fortnight is fourteen days.
The use of Ain’t as a substitute for am not or are not dates back to the reign of King Charles II, about 300 years. It is unclear how or why it became unacceptable in the English Language.
The word petard refers to a type of bomb or mine once used to break down walls and gates. To be hoist is to be blown up. Therefore, to be hoist by one’s own petard is to be, literally or figuratively, blown up by one’s own bomb.
The word is used by astronomers to describe the position of three bodies that are approximately in line. For example, when the moon is full, it is in syzygy with the earth and sun, because it is on the far side of the earth from the sun.
Throughout history, the wolf has been known for its insatiable appetite. This came to represent hunger and need. Thus, the Wolf is a symbol of the troubles that must be kept away.