Cats and Words
@catsandwords.bsky.social
“Do you find it easy to get drunk on words?”
“So easy that, to tell you the truth, I am seldom perfectly sober.” — Dorothy Sayers, “Gaudy Night” (1935).
“So easy that, to tell you the truth, I am seldom perfectly sober.” — Dorothy Sayers, “Gaudy Night” (1935).
Merry Christmas!
December 24, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Merry Christmas!
Ready for Christmas!
December 24, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Ready for Christmas!
A little seasonal etymology fun.
“Reindeer” is unrelated to “rein.”
It’s from the Old Norse hreindyri, literally “reindeer animal,” with dyr being a word for any wild quadruped—just like Old English deor—and hreinn being the typical/more specific word for a reindeer in Old Norse. (The Old English word for a reindeer was hran.)
It’s from the Old Norse hreindyri, literally “reindeer animal,” with dyr being a word for any wild quadruped—just like Old English deor—and hreinn being the typical/more specific word for a reindeer in Old Norse. (The Old English word for a reindeer was hran.)
December 22, 2025 at 4:19 PM
A little seasonal etymology fun.
Today I met a dog named Maybe. A strong contender for Funniest Dog Name Ever. (Sorry, no photo. The pup wouldn't stop moving!)
December 21, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Today I met a dog named Maybe. A strong contender for Funniest Dog Name Ever. (Sorry, no photo. The pup wouldn't stop moving!)
The sign says, “Please do not place things on the harpsichord. (The gnomes will steal your socks.)” However, Leo can’t read. Also, cats are lawyers and (1) he is not a “thing” and (2) nobody “placed” him there. And he has no socks to steal, anyway. #magnifiCAT
December 19, 2025 at 8:27 PM
The sign says, “Please do not place things on the harpsichord. (The gnomes will steal your socks.)” However, Leo can’t read. Also, cats are lawyers and (1) he is not a “thing” and (2) nobody “placed” him there. And he has no socks to steal, anyway. #magnifiCAT
A nice curry hits just right on a cold Monday.
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024095-kerala-style-vegetable-korma?unlocked_article_code=1.808.SAwl.Cb9-SUX2vZK-&smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024095-kerala-style-vegetable-korma?unlocked_article_code=1.808.SAwl.Cb9-SUX2vZK-&smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share
December 15, 2025 at 7:24 PM
A nice curry hits just right on a cold Monday.
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024095-kerala-style-vegetable-korma?unlocked_article_code=1.808.SAwl.Cb9-SUX2vZK-&smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024095-kerala-style-vegetable-korma?unlocked_article_code=1.808.SAwl.Cb9-SUX2vZK-&smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share
Reposted by Cats and Words
I love words like "yes" and "no."
You'd think they are these ordinary rocks of words. But crack 'em open and you discover they are etymological geodes.
"Yes" could be from the Old English "gea hit is swa" (yea, it is so)? Get out!
That's just the start of it: mashedradish.com/2025/12/12/y...
You'd think they are these ordinary rocks of words. But crack 'em open and you discover they are etymological geodes.
"Yes" could be from the Old English "gea hit is swa" (yea, it is so)? Get out!
That's just the start of it: mashedradish.com/2025/12/12/y...
A simple “yes” or “no”? Nope. Not etymologically.
The origins of the words “yes” and “no” are knotty—and “naughty.”
mashedradish.com
December 12, 2025 at 2:08 PM
I love words like "yes" and "no."
You'd think they are these ordinary rocks of words. But crack 'em open and you discover they are etymological geodes.
"Yes" could be from the Old English "gea hit is swa" (yea, it is so)? Get out!
That's just the start of it: mashedradish.com/2025/12/12/y...
You'd think they are these ordinary rocks of words. But crack 'em open and you discover they are etymological geodes.
"Yes" could be from the Old English "gea hit is swa" (yea, it is so)? Get out!
That's just the start of it: mashedradish.com/2025/12/12/y...
From an article comparing Dutch ovens:
“Both pots, though, have very high-quality enamel coatings that resist chipping and limited lifetime warranties.”
Why would an enamel coating want to resist a warranty (lifetime or otherwise)? 😁 #badwriting
#usecommasplease
“Both pots, though, have very high-quality enamel coatings that resist chipping and limited lifetime warranties.”
Why would an enamel coating want to resist a warranty (lifetime or otherwise)? 😁 #badwriting
#usecommasplease
December 10, 2025 at 9:20 PM
From an article comparing Dutch ovens:
“Both pots, though, have very high-quality enamel coatings that resist chipping and limited lifetime warranties.”
Why would an enamel coating want to resist a warranty (lifetime or otherwise)? 😁 #badwriting
#usecommasplease
“Both pots, though, have very high-quality enamel coatings that resist chipping and limited lifetime warranties.”
Why would an enamel coating want to resist a warranty (lifetime or otherwise)? 😁 #badwriting
#usecommasplease
Coopers Hawk, outside my window a few minutes ago. #birdsofprey
December 10, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Coopers Hawk, outside my window a few minutes ago. #birdsofprey
As long as I’ve lived in New England, I am still a fragile southern flower and I don’t like the cold. So today I stayed home and baked bread. #challahbackgirl
December 8, 2025 at 11:45 PM
As long as I’ve lived in New England, I am still a fragile southern flower and I don’t like the cold. So today I stayed home and baked bread. #challahbackgirl
The full #coldmoon rising. #supermoon
December 4, 2025 at 9:30 PM
The full #coldmoon rising. #supermoon
You’re never too old to learn new words! Today I discovered “enochlophobia”—literally “in crowd fear”. A good word for introverts.
November 29, 2025 at 10:13 PM
You’re never too old to learn new words! Today I discovered “enochlophobia”—literally “in crowd fear”. A good word for introverts.
Your Thanksgiving Day #etymology fun fact: “pea” is a back-formation from “pease”, the original name of the plant, misconstrued as a plural. “Pease” (from “pisum”, the Latin name of the plant) survives in the nursery rhyme that begins “pease porridge hot, pease porridge cold.”
November 28, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Your Thanksgiving Day #etymology fun fact: “pea” is a back-formation from “pease”, the original name of the plant, misconstrued as a plural. “Pease” (from “pisum”, the Latin name of the plant) survives in the nursery rhyme that begins “pease porridge hot, pease porridge cold.”
One of my family’s Thanksgiving Day traditions was trying to read through Art Buchwald’s classic holiday column without cracking up. I think we failed most years. Here it is, in case you would like to take up the challenge. #thanksgivinghumor
sandyschopbach.blogspot.com/2012/11/le-j...
sandyschopbach.blogspot.com/2012/11/le-j...
sandyschopbach.blogspot.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:51 PM
One of my family’s Thanksgiving Day traditions was trying to read through Art Buchwald’s classic holiday column without cracking up. I think we failed most years. Here it is, in case you would like to take up the challenge. #thanksgivinghumor
sandyschopbach.blogspot.com/2012/11/le-j...
sandyschopbach.blogspot.com/2012/11/le-j...
“I am The Cat, and everything here is Mine. Especially you.” (Hence the unmade bed. 😻)
November 18, 2025 at 3:11 PM
“I am The Cat, and everything here is Mine. Especially you.” (Hence the unmade bed. 😻)
Powerful words for our times – written in 1906.
From all that terror teaches,
from lies of tongue and pen,
from all the easy speeches
that comfort cruel men,
from sale and profanation
of honour and the sword,
from sleep and from damnation,
deliver us, good Lord!
–G.K. Chesterton (1874–1936)
From all that terror teaches,
from lies of tongue and pen,
from all the easy speeches
that comfort cruel men,
from sale and profanation
of honour and the sword,
from sleep and from damnation,
deliver us, good Lord!
–G.K. Chesterton (1874–1936)
November 16, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Powerful words for our times – written in 1906.
From all that terror teaches,
from lies of tongue and pen,
from all the easy speeches
that comfort cruel men,
from sale and profanation
of honour and the sword,
from sleep and from damnation,
deliver us, good Lord!
–G.K. Chesterton (1874–1936)
From all that terror teaches,
from lies of tongue and pen,
from all the easy speeches
that comfort cruel men,
from sale and profanation
of honour and the sword,
from sleep and from damnation,
deliver us, good Lord!
–G.K. Chesterton (1874–1936)
This bag matches my eyes, so it’s mine now. You can’t have it. #everythinghereismineanyway
November 13, 2025 at 2:44 PM
This bag matches my eyes, so it’s mine now. You can’t have it. #everythinghereismineanyway
Reposted by Cats and Words
November 11, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Time to make the biscuits. She is very focused. 😻
November 4, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Time to make the biscuits. She is very focused. 😻
Is it a football game or an auction? #proofreadingmatters
November 2, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Is it a football game or an auction? #proofreadingmatters
Happy Meowloween from Leo, who reminds you to keep your kitties – especially black kitties – safely indoors on Halloween. #petsafety
October 31, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Happy Meowloween from Leo, who reminds you to keep your kitties – especially black kitties – safely indoors on Halloween. #petsafety
They are not impressed by #NationalCatDay because they know that’s every day.
October 29, 2025 at 4:46 PM
They are not impressed by #NationalCatDay because they know that’s every day.