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Hidden Meanings Trivia Quiz

Words often hide meanings they no longer have. Just see how good a linguistic sleuth you are.

A multiple-choice quiz by flem-ish. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
flem-ish

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
147,529

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1135

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What medieval European fashion-centre did "milliners" get their name from originally? Hint

Mechlin in Belgium

Melun near Paris

Mulhouse in France

Milan in Italy

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Question 2 of 10

2. In which country did "kowtowing" have its literal meaning of showing submission by a respectful bow? Hint

China

Czarist Russia

Japan

Brahmin India

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which of these names of a disease was based on the mistaken belief that it was caused by the "bad air" emanating from marshes? Hint

malaria

influenza

rubella

shingles

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Question 4 of 10

4. In what name did the word "pandemonium" (uproar, chaos) have its origin? Hint

the name of a theological treatise by Martin Luther

the name of the capital of Hell in Milton's "Paradise Lost"

the name of a philosophical treatise by Thomas Hobbes

the name of the Library of the Forbidden Books at the Vatican

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Question 5 of 10

5. In what job or profession did the word "blackguard" have its origin? Hint

shoe-blackers

kitchen servants having to handle black pots

nightwatchers in black armour

members of the Scottish Black Watch

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Question 6 of 10

6. What is the correct link with the origin of the word "trivial"? Hint

Things that go in 3 directions at a time ( tri-via) are ambiguous and inexact.

The "academic disciplines" belonging to the medieval trivium (grammar;rhetoric;logic) were considered as worthless.

A "trivium" or a crossroads was where people gossiped.

The "trivium" were the "inferior" 3 first classes of Roman primary school education.

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Question 7 of 10

7. What was a 'parlour' originally? Hint

Room where barbers take care of their customers while entertaining them with gossip.

Room where gentlemen could sit, talk and smoke cigars -after dinner.

Room where monks could talk to visitors.

Room in a coffeehouse where customers could sit and sip coffee, while having pleasant conversation.

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Question 8 of 10

8. What type of ape got its name from Malay for "man of the wood" or "wild man"? Hint

baboon

gorilla

orang-utan

chimpanzee

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Question 9 of 10

9. What did 'parole' originally mean? Hint

An oral agreement between families about a future marriage between two of their children.

An unwritten admission of guilt and promise not to leave the country.

Solemn undertaking by a prisoner of war to abide by certain conditions in exchange for privileges.

Word of honour given by priests not to betray the secrets of confession.

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which seven-letter word now means 'tearful' and 'sentimental' and derives from the name of a Biblical character and female contemporary of Jesus?

Answer: (Think Magdalen College.)

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What medieval European fashion-centre did "milliners" get their name from originally?

Answer: Milan in Italy

Milliners first were producers of ribbons and fancy cloth. Later the word got the more limited meaning of hatmakers.
Milan in Lombardy was a banking-centre, but also a centre of fashion as it is still today.

2. In which country did "kowtowing" have its literal meaning of showing submission by a respectful bow?

Answer: China

In Chinese koutou literally means to knock the head.
It practically meant: to kneel and touch the forehead to the ground in token of homage, worship or deep respect.
Later this developed into the more general meaning: to show obsequious deference.

3. Which of these names of a disease was based on the mistaken belief that it was caused by the "bad air" emanating from marshes?

Answer: malaria

Romans believed that mal aria (bad air in Italian) was caused by the infectious air in the local marshes. It was only later that a mosquito - btw not the tsetse fly - , was identified as the true culprit.

4. In what name did the word "pandemonium" (uproar, chaos) have its origin?

Answer: the name of the capital of Hell in Milton's "Paradise Lost"

Hobbes wrote about "Leviathan" in 1660.

5. In what job or profession did the word "blackguard" have its origin?

Answer: kitchen servants having to handle black pots

Such kitchen-servants were probably recruited among the lower classes, and may have been looked down on by their masters as 'the scum of the earth'.
Shoeblackers are more recent than the word blackguard.
Nightwatchers did not wear black armour.
And there can be little doubt that the Black Watch did not consist of ..blackguards.

6. What is the correct link with the origin of the word "trivial"?

Answer: A "trivium" or a crossroads was where people gossiped.

The "quadrivium"(music;arithmetic;geometry and astronomy) was considered to be on a higher level than the "trivium", but that did not yet mean those disciplines were considered as "worthless".
Trivial was indeed linked to what "everybody can talk about in the most common places possible". Therefore "commonplace", "not of any real importance".

7. What was a 'parlour' originally?

Answer: Room where monks could talk to visitors.

Now there are icecream-parlours; beauty-parlours etc.

8. What type of ape got its name from Malay for "man of the wood" or "wild man"?

Answer: orang-utan

'Hutan' means forest. 'Orang' is man. It cannot be denied that the Malay language saw some similarity between men and apes already before Darwin had formulated his theories on evolution.

9. What did 'parole' originally mean?

Answer: Solemn undertaking by a prisoner of war to abide by certain conditions in exchange for privileges.

Parole did not necessarily mean prisoners of war could return to their homecountry, but it gave them a certain amount of comfort and freedom, often in exchange for a promise not to take up arms any more against their captors.

10. Which seven-letter word now means 'tearful' and 'sentimental' and derives from the name of a Biblical character and female contemporary of Jesus?

Answer: maudlin

Mary of Magdala or Mary Magdalena is often depicted as weeping profusely.

Source: Author flem-ish

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor fringe before going online.
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