Ten More Words Whose Origins Will Surprise You

Named after a 10th-century Danish king, Harald “Bluetooth” Gormsson, known for uniting warring tribes—just like the tech unites devices. The logo combines Norse runes for H and B.

From Greek dis (bad) + aster (star). It originally meant a bad star, reflecting the belief that misfortunes were caused by planetary alignments.

Comes from the Greek god Pan, who was said to cause sudden, irrational fear in people and animals with his shout.

From the myth of Tantalus, condemned to eternal hunger and thirst with food and water just out of reach—like a tease.

From Medieval Italian mal aria, meaning “bad air.” Before germ theory, people believed swamp air caused disease.

From the Nahuatl word āhuacatl, which means “testicle,” likely due to the fruit’s shape. Yep.

From Latin nescius, meaning “ignorant” or “unknowing.” It originally meant “foolish” and only later came to mean kind or pleasant.

From Latin genuinus, meaning “innate” or “natural,” possibly from genu (knee), referring to a Roman custom of a father placing a child on his knee to acknowledge paternity.

From Old French mort (dead) + gage (pledge). A “dead pledge” because the agreement dies when the debt is paid (or if it's not...).

From Irish Gaelic uisce beatha, meaning “water of life.” Eventually shortened and anglicized to "whiskey."