Terecia Elshinta
No Egg in Eggplant?

English has funny words.

Take "Eggplant" for example. There’s no egg in eggplant,  nor ham in a hamburger.

Why is it called pineapple where there’s neither pine nor apple in it?  

Why are they called English muffins which weren’t invented by English or French fries by French?


(I’ve already made a Google search about the origin of eggplant. Here’s what I found: Way back in the 1700s, early European versions of eggplant were smaller and yellow or white. They looked a bit like goose or hen's eggs, which led to the name “eggplant." https://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-is-it-called-an-eggplant)


I think whoever invented these words are creative.


Can you list more funny yet creative English words?

I would highly appreciate it if you could provide some links to the origin of them.

Mar 12, 2019 12:24 PM
Comments · 24
9
A ladybird isn't a female bird. A butterfly isn't a fly covered in butter,
March 12, 2019
9

We have a pudding in England called 'Spotted Dick'.

That's all I'm saying...

March 12, 2019
8

English muffins weren't invented in England.

French fries were not invented in France.

Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat. 


NASA has built a new restaurant on the moon. The food is great, but the place doesn’t have any atmosphere.


March 12, 2019
7
... nor does it eat chips.
March 12, 2019
7
a chipmunk isn't a monk of any kind 
March 12, 2019
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