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 134543156 to play Etymologic!


Ready? Here's your first question...
What is the etymological basis of the word hassle, as in 'It seemed easy, but proved a major hassle'?
Derived from the Greek hasl, to have a loud disagreement
An expression arising from 1920s slang, when the word hostile was contracted by popular jargon to hos'l then hassle
Many experts believe it's from the Southern USA, from a word that meant 'to pant or breathe noisily'




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