From diesel to gerrymandering, the English language is rich with
eponyms--words that are named after an individual. The many histories
behind these words are often mesmerizing--a word named, incidentally,
after the German physician Franz Mesmer, who developed the practice of
hypnotism as a form of therapy.
Deriving from numerous sources, eponyms are full of intrigue. This book
features one hundred and fifty of the most interesting and enlightening
specimens, delving into the origins of the words and describing the
fascinating people after whom they were named. Some honor a style icon,
inventor, or explorer, such as pompadour, Kalashnikov, and
Cadillac. Others have roots in Greek or Roman mythology, such as
panic and tantalize. Still others are far from celebratory and were
created to brand the negative association of their origins--into this
category can be filed boycott, Molotov cocktail, and sadist.
Encompassing words from medicine, botany, invention, science, fashion,
food, and literature, this book uncovers the curious tales of discovery,
mythology, innovation, and infamy behind the eponyms we use every day.
The Real McCoy is the perfect addition to any wordsmith's bookshelf.