The Long Journey to English Trivia Quiz

Answer: Garage

Cars were introduced to the world in 1886 when the intrepid Karl Benz first designed his motor wagon. These were looked upon as a rarity for the following twenty years until the American Henry Ford, in 1908, came up with the idea of his famous Model T Ford, a car inexpensive enough for the general public to purchase.

By the early 20th century, the word for a shelter for a car, when not in use, was introduced into the French as the word "garer". Its translation was "to shelter". "Garer" then drove over to the English language when it evolved into the word "garage".

Answer: Mosquito

This word made its way from the Latin to the Portuguese to the Spanish, before landing on the English doorstep. It originated as the Latin "musca" (meaning fly) into the Portuguese "mosca" (same meaning) and then to the Spanish "Mosquito" before buzzing over to the English in the late 16th century. Mosquitoes are extremely irritating creatures whose bite can, at the same time as drawing blood, and making us scratch like mad, introduce some very dangerous diseases into the human blood stream.

Answer: Umbrella

The Latin language of course introduced this word into the Italian, what with Rome and the Romans and all. "Umbrella" made its way into the English language some time during the 17th century, but before it unfurled there, it travelled from "umbra" (Latin) to "ombra" (Italian) and to "ombrella" (later Italian).

The good old umbrella we know today is a device that can shelter us from either the sun or the rain, but which has an irritating habit of turning inside out on windy days.

Answer: Coleslaw

Coleslaw is a yummy cold salad dish comprising chopped up raw cabbage, carrot, celery, a bit of grated onion if you like, and mixed together with some tasty mayonnaise - although many of us prefer it without that addition. The word originated in the Dutch language as "kool" (cabbage), then was diced there into "sla" and "koolsla" before it made its way into the English language as "slaw", and finally "coleslaw". Coleslaw is a delicious, healthy treat, with the added benefit of needing no cooking for those of us who suffer from stovephobia.

Answer: Poodle

Poodles are pooches that one either adores or dislikes. They were known in Germany as far back as the 15th century at least. The line of descent for the word "poodle" we recognise today originated from the low German word "puddeln" (which meant to splash in water). From that, (bearing in mind the dog was noted for its love of water) this dog became known as the "pudelhund". During the 19th century, either in Germany OR France, a country in which the dog had become extremely popular, the word evolved into "poodle" - at the same time as it barked its way into the English language.

Poodles are extremely intelligent and versatile animals. They have been used as retrievers and gun dogs (they're excellent swimmers), they're athletic and agile, and have a wool like quality to their fur (which doesn't shed). To their eternal shame they have also been used to perform in the circus over the years. They have amazing reflexes and can run like the wind, they're superb at hunting out truffles (better than pigs actually), and they have even been used as able, skillful war dogs during these terrible times in history. The little poodle is also affectionate and loyal and adores its owner, in spite of the idiotic fur style they're sometimes forced to endure.

Answer: Ski

Skiing is a recreational and sporting activity in countries that usually produce a lot of snow in winter. Those who partake in this activity use skis to glide down, sometimes at breakneck speeds, various degrees of steep slopes. It is a very exhilarating and free activity and is wonderful to watch. Make no mistake though, those at the top level of skiing are very skilled indeed.

The word "ski" originated from the old Norse word "skith" which translated as snowshoe, or "skio" which translated to split wood. Dating right back to 600 BC, skiing has been around for a couple of thousand years.

By the time the 18th century clicked over, the word had evolved into "ski", at which time it schussed its way into the English language.

Answer: Vodka

The word vodka comes from the Russia "voda" which is understood to have meant water. Very strong water at that, it would seem. Originally though, by the time "voda" evolved into the word "vodka" (first recorded in 1405), it was associated with medicines and cleaners rather than intoxication. That reminds me of my father.

He always had a small glass of rum and hot water at night, and assured us all gravely that it was for "medicinal purposes". The 1530s saw vodka being described in Russia as a medicinal drink containing grain wine.

By the 18th century though, vodka was being sold in public houses for people to consume for enjoyment. The word by then meant "little water", as in a little water was mixed with the alcohol content. Just for the record, Poland also claims ownership and origins of vodka and its name. Regardless of ownership, the late 18th century saw the word, and one presumes the drink as well, well and truly established in English speaking countries.

Answer: Bangle

Bangles are solid metallic bracelets commonly worn by the fairer sex from countries such as India, Bangladesh and Pakistan for decorative purposes. This is interesting: Brides were traditionally given glass bangles at their weddings in these countries, and the honeymoon was said to last until the last bangle broke. One imagines they were treated with great care! Each glass bracelet was known as a "bangli" in the Hindi language. Today, of course, bracelets can be made from any material apart from glass, but it is common to see them manufactured from gold or silver in English speaking countries.

By the time the "bangli" had glistened its way into our language, some time during the 18th century, it was being referred to as a bangle, the word we know today.

Answer: Caravan

The word "caravan" we know today is a mobile home on wheels, in which many people travel about on their holidays. Its original meaning though, which comes down to us from the Persian language as "karwan", meant a train of horses, camels or mules used for toting trade goods about. By the late 15th century, "karwans" were being used in France as horse drawn wagons. By that time, the word had evolved into "karavane". Following this period, the "karavane" went to another location on holiday in the early 19th century, a resort known as the English Language. There it was known as "caravan" an object we now recognise so easily as that holiday home on wheels. For many unskilled drivers towing a caravan behind their vehicle today, and who are driving too fast going down a hill, that caravan can sometimes arrive at the bottom of the descent somewhat ahead of the terrified driver in the vehicle doing the towing. Do drive carefully if you own one.

The term is seldom heard in the US or Canada - there they are known as trailers or recreational vehicles.

Answer: Hurricane

The Taino were a branch of the Arawak people who were inhabiting the areas of Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Haiti and the Dominican Republic before the arrival of the Spaniards who took over most of that area of the world during the 15th century. The Taino word for a hurricane was "hurakan".

This translated into "god of the storm" but for the Spaniards, it meant a powerful and possibly life-threatening attack of Mother Nature instead. Under them, the word became known as "huracan", but, by the mid 16th century, it had changed direction once again and became known as "hurricane" the word English speaking people recognise today.