ETYMOLOGIC!

In this etymology game you'll be presented with 10 randomly selected etymology (word origin) or word definition puzzles to solve; in each case the word or phrase is highlighted in bold, and a number of possible answers will be presented. You need to choose the correct answer to score a point for that question. Beware! The false answers will often also seem quite plausible, and some of the true answers are hard to believe, but we have documentation!

Oh, and in case you're wondering, the word etymology comes from the Greek word 'etymos', which means real, or true, and the -ology ending indicates that it's the study of, or science of. Put them together and you get the study or science of the real or true. Impressive, eh?

You're person 134553519 to play Etymologic!


Ready? Here's your first question...
what is the origin of the phrase chip on the shoulder?
Ancient life-long quarry-worker with damaged shoulder blade blaming his condition for every ill
Corruption of chimp on the shoulder. 19th-century barrel-organ players had a Chimpanzee weighing down their shoulder; years later they still walked with one shoulder lower, although there was no chimp there.
An aggressive challenge issued by someone with a high level of self-confidence to another: more akin to a dare




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