Word history is a dodgy subject for most people. Some suppose they know the derivation of a term because they’ve heard about it — almost like a rumor. What’s the origin of posh? It’s not “port outward, starboard home,” as you’ll often hear, on the supposed rationale that wealthy people would take rooms in these desirable positions on an ocean liner. That’s called “folk etymology” — a colorful but entirely false explanation of a term’s origins. Although scholars have long since debunked that theory, their conclusion that the word’s origin is simply unknown leaves many unsatisfied. So fanciful histories abound.

A surprising number of words and phrases are of unknown origin. They’ve stumped etymologists. A few examples are buck naked, bunko, cantilever, dido (as well as the similar word with an additional consonant), kibosh, ledger line, margarita, on the lam, rule the roost, tinker’s damn, tip (gratuity), traipse, and turmeric. Whenever the best explanation is “origin unknown,” whimsical theories unsupported by the facts are sure to arise. Tour guides are prone to them.

Although there is an almost universal urge to know about the history of words, the subject is a specialty that requires years of multilingual training and, frankly, years of drudgery. Occasionally, though, all the hard work turns up a seemingly ordinary word with a colorful story behind it. Knowing that story will make some people more astute in their use of the language; it will make others terrific bores as they try to inject etymological explanations into every conversation. Ho-hum (a double interjection, if you must know, dating from the 1920s).

True, a knowledge of etymologies can give depth and nuance to your understanding of language. But it’s typically fallacious and amateurish to try to establish the “true meaning” of a term today by resorting to its etymology.

Let’s test your knowledge of some unusual etymologies. Try committing yourself to answers before checking the answers — preferably on a separate sheet of paper, as you’ll surely want to share this quiz with family, friends, and co-workers.

abet (to help someone commit a crime) derives from (a) murdering one’s sibling, (b) placing a wager, (c) “aid before egregious transgression” — an acronym, or (d) baiting wild animals.

abomination (something extremely offensive or of an extremely poor quality) derives from (a) detesting someone, (b) shrinking from an evil omen, (c) committing violence with explosives, or (d) defaming someone.

ambulance (a special vehicle for transporting ill or injured people to the hospital) derives from (a) the lancing of boils, (b) a “running siren,” (c) a “walking hospital,” or (d) a wavering (“ambi”) between seeking or not seeking medical aid.

anecdote (a brief story based on personal experience or recollection) derives from (a) “inanity in dotage,” (b) unpublished notes, (c) something “recalled during dotage,” or (d) a quick cure.

bonfire (a large outdoor fire made either for burning waste or for a party) derives from (a) a “good fire,” (b) a fire of bones, (c) a fire of merchants’ goods, or (d) a “comfortable fire.”

bugle (a trumpetlike instrument used in the military) derives from (a) the bulging cheeks (buccalis) of players, (b) the small insect whose shape it resembles, (c) the ox that supplied it, or (d) a lesioned embouchure.

enthusiasm (fervent interest in or eagerness for something) derives from (a) religious frenzy, (b) Greco-Roman cheerleading, (c) a “spasm of the thyroid gland,” or (d) excited elopement.

halcyon (involving happy, prosperous times) derives from (a) the “scion of Hal,” a mythologically happy character, (b) the “center of attention,” (c) “heavenly being,” or (d) a bird thought to brood on calm waves.

infant (a baby) derives from (a) one who cannot speak, (b) one who has been delivered, (c) one who cannot walk, or (d) one who “screams into.”

opportune (occurring at a suitable time) derives from (a) contrapuntal music, (b) the “meaning of melody,” (c) a wish come true, or (d) being “at the port.”

supercilious (behaving as if one were superior to others) derives from (a) raised eyebrows, (b) flared nostrils, (c) an unfurled flag, or (d) a tight-lipped grimace.

tawdry (badly made or having low standards) derives from (a) tinsel and glitter, (b) St. Audrey’s fair, (c) an arthritic tanner’s hands, or (d) etcher’s ink.

Answers. 1. (d). Originally about 13th-century bear-baiting, the word came to denote inciting someone to unlawful action a century later. 2. (b). In classical Latin, “deprecation of an ill omen.” 3. (c). From 18th-century French for “an itinerant field hospital.” 4. (b). Originally Byzantine Greek anekdota, meaning “things unpublished.” 5. (b). Originally a 15th-century word meaning “a fire of bones.” 6. (c). In 14th-century England, a wind instrument made from an ox’s horn. 7. (a). Enthusiasm derives from an ancient Greek verb meaning “to be possessed by a god.” 8. (d). In classical mythology, a halcyon is a bird that floats on a calm sea. 9. (a). From classical Latin infans, meaning “unable to speak.” 10. (d). Opportune was originally a nautical term; Portunus was the god protecting harbors. 11. (a). Even in ancient times, raised eyebrows were associated with haughty disdain. 12. (b). Audrey (a simplified form of Ethelreda) was the queen of Northumbria in the seventh century; the fair named after her became famous for cheap jewelry and tinselly knickknacks.