X-raying Words Trivia Quiz

Answer: buffalo via "boubalos" from Greek 'bous' for cow

In many Indogermanic languages the l-syllable (or more technically: a syllabic "l") adds an extra emotional dimension to the basic meaning of a word. In German that 'l-addition' often causes first names to become pet names. Fritz becomes Fritzl, Grete becomes Gretl (alternative diminutive for Gretchen). Christa becomes Christl etc. In the case of buffalo it worked the other way round: Greek 'bous' for a cow first became "boubalos" for an impressive big cow. After all it's not just smallness that endears or rouses emotion.

Answer: fez

A fez is described as either being worn as a skull cap or a brimless short cylindrical peakless hat that usually has a tassel. It is mostly made of felt and is worn especially by men in eastern Mediterranean countries. A beret is a visorless, usually woollen, cap with a tight headband and soft full flat top. A biretta is a distinctive head-covering, emblematic of a position or office, e.g. the cardinal's biretta. A tiara is either a three-tiered crown (as worn by the Pope) or a decorative jewelled headband (as worn by women on very formal occasions).

Answer: flower that does not wither

There is no link with amarus bitter as in amaretto or "Amer Picon", the French drink.
Amaranth plant is an annual herb, not a true grain. In India it is called "rajeera", the King's grain. A- means "not". Anthos as in helianth, anthology, etc. is a flower. Amaranth = never fading flower.

Answer: fiend

Demon is derived from the old Greek word "daimoon", which originally referred to a spiritual being that mediates between the transcendent and the temporal realms. Later the word was more exclusively used for a malevolent such being.
Old Nick was probably taken from the language of Dutch sailors who used the old-Dutch word "neckere" for "devil".
One of the taboo words for Afro-Americans may have its origin in a fusion between the Dutch word "neckere" and the Latin word "niger".
From Germanic 'fijond' German derived "Feind"(enemy) as in "Feind hört mit".

Answer: fantasy

Fantasy is not related to 'fari' but to such words as phantasm, phantom, and even to epiphany, diaphanous and phenomenon. The root word is Greek 'phainein', to show, to cause to shine. Fancy is a contracted form of fantasy.
Fabulous is linked with 'fabula' which means "something you tell to others". Famous means that which has often been spoken about.
Fatal, and fate derive from Latin 'fatum': that which has been said beforehand; "destiny as predicted"; that which is said by the oracle.
Similar links exist with such words as preface (what is said beforehand); infantry (infans: the very young kids who cannot speak yet; later a word for "our boys from the army"); affable: easy to be spoken to.

Answer: falsetto

The baritone is the most common category of male voices. A contralto is the female voice of the lowest pitch. Literally it is "a second voice set against the alto". The mezzo-soprano is to be situated between the real soprano and the alto-voices.
Sopranos are the female voices of the highest pitch and occur in 3 variants: coloratura, lyric and dramatic.
A countertenor is a male voice singing in the alto range. To do so the singer either uses the falsetto technique or must have an exceptionally high extension of the tenor voice.
A falsetto however has an artificially high voice.
Castrato-singers had artifically created soprano or alto-voices.

Answer: Morgan, King Arthur's sister

Though the "fata morgana" phenomenon does occur near the Calabrian Coast, the name is not linked with any typically Italian word. Morgan Le Fay was the mysterious sister of King Arthur whose power of trickery was held responsible for this natural phenomenon.
Miranda is Prospero's daughter in Shakespeare's "The Tempest".
No link between Fatima and fata. Fatima itself means: "be aware of". In Mohamet's case probably "Allah".
There sure has been a lot of talk about "femmes fatales" and "donne fatale", but they have not yet adopted the shape of a "fata morgana".
Fatal and fate derive from "fatum": what has been said (beforehand), predicted.

Answer: True

Bagdad literally means "God's gift" in Persian. Bagdad was famous for its silk. The Tuscan word for Bagdad was Baldacco.

Answer: little armoured one

The armadillo is a stout brownish animal with strong curved claws and peglike teeth.

Answer: barca (boat) because it was a boatsman's song

The barcarolle was the typical boatsong as sung by a Venetian gondolier.