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Words and Numbers Trivia

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The word encyclopedia is derived from the Greek enkuklios paideia, meaning "general education."

The robbery phrase “Hands Up” originated in British Columbia. Bill Miner, an American known as the Gentleman Bandit, is said to have first used the phrase while robbing a Canadian Pacific Railways train in Mission Junction, British Columbia in 1904.

The first college on record to use the word "campus" to describe its grounds was Princeton. "Campus" is Latin for "field."

Shakespeare was the first to use certain words that are now common, including "hurry," "bump," "eyeball," and "anchovy."

The word galaxy comes from the Greek word for milk, galacticos.

The Romans had three words for kissing: basium was the kiss exchanged by acquaintances; osculum, the kiss between close friends; and suavium, the kiss between lovers.

The first letters of the months July through November, in order, spell the name JASON.

Silhouettes are named after a French minister of finance who had a reputation for being tight with money, as silhouettes are a tight outline around a subject.

The word monsoon is derived from the Arabic word mausim, meaning "season." It was first used by Arab sailors to describe the seasonal winds that blow across the Arabian Sea.

The Romans named cattle “Bos,” a term that survives today in the affectionate nickname “Bossy” for a cow.

The flower worn in the buttonhole of a lapel, boutonniere, is from the French word for "buttonhole."

Some Australian colloquial terms are: To do your block- Loose your temper, To have a blue- Have a fight, To be stark bollicky- to be naked, To be ridgey didge- To be totally honest, To have buckley's- No chance at all, To have a decko- To have a look.

The word paraffin is derived from the Greek words "parum" and "affinis," which translates to “barely connected,” so called from its slight affinity for other substances.

The Russian equivalent of "Mister" or "Mr." is "gospodin," and its literal translation is “lord.” It is used as a title of respect.

The foreign phrase de jure means "by law."

Some time back, the use of pet names was called hypocorism.

The word photography is derived from two Greek words for "writing" and "light."

The Sanskrit word for war translates to "desire for more cows."

The French phrase jeunesse dorée, which refers to wealthy, stylish, sophisticated people, translates literally to “gilded youth.”

Someone who is "pauciloquent" uses as few words as possible when speaking.

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