http://www.worldwidewords.org Copyright 1997-2011 Michael Quinion World Wide Words examines the English language from a British viewpoint. It discusses word histories, new words, the background to words in the news and problems of English usage. Monday to Friday, the Word File provides a random link to a World Wide Words page. webmaster@worldwidewords.org (Michael Quinion) wordseditor@worldwidewords.org (Michael Quinion) Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:00:00 GMT en-gb 1440 http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-amp1.htm Ampersand, comes from an old way of teaching children to recite the alphabet.]]> Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:00:00 GMT http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-amp1.htm http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-ril1.htm living the life of Riley come from?]]> Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:00:00 GMT http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-ril1.htm http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-bri2.htm Bridewell was operational, but the name survives in a few places.]]> Mon, 20 Feb 2012 09:00:00 GMT http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-bri2.htm http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-duc4.htm duct tape or duck tape, and why?]]> Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:00:00 GMT http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-duc4.htm http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-fus2.htm Fustilugs is an expressive insult.]]> Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:00:00 GMT http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-fus2.htm