How did people come up with names for things...

Casper_Fading · 29-03-2009, 10:10 PM

Rhubarb? Who came up with Rhubarb??? I mean... did they just look at and go... hmmmm that looks like a rhubarb! Pumpkin.... corn... peas... how? Who comes up with these names?!?!?!?!

29-03-2009, 10:12 PM

Lol, i wonder this too
when i was little, i thought that someone saw like, a Tree, thought of the name, then went to the police station, and said, "i have called this a tree"
aahahhaah

Sometimes Crazy · 29-03-2009, 10:12 PM

RHUUUUUUUUUU-BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARB.

I don't know.

JumpinJackFlash · 29-03-2009, 10:12 PM

Who discovered the plant probably.

Casper_Fading · 29-03-2009, 10:16 PM

But how do you name it? How do you see something and going "that is Rhubarb!" Hoooow?

linder surprise · 29-03-2009, 11:04 PM

god did.

tigris · 29-03-2009, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miowable

Lol, i wonder this too
when i was little, i thought that someone saw like, a Tree, thought of the name, then went to the police station, and said, "i have called this a tree"
aahahhaah

OMG I used to think this as well, I just didn't get how it would work otherwise at all!

But then I did Latin and started learning that words have roots from other words and stuff, so now I get it a bit more. Still a really weird thought!

I.Heart.And · 29-03-2009, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miowable

Lol, i wonder this too
when i was little, i thought that someone saw like, a Tree, thought of the name, then went to the police station, and said, "i have called this a tree"
aahahhaah

Ha ha that's so cute..but why the police station?

29-03-2009, 11:40 PM

loool i dont know
i thought the police were in charge of everything..
i recall telling one to arrest a kid who dropped a sweet wrapper...

The War Doctor · 30-03-2009, 01:37 AM

Say the word "elbow" to yourself over and over, preferably slooowly. Then ask yourself who came up with THAT.

Tuesday · 30-03-2009, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob--Attorney-At-Law

Say the word "elbow" to yourself over and over, preferably slooowly. Then ask yourself who came up with THAT.

I did this and it made me giggle.

I have often contemplated the question who on earth came up with the term "hairdryer." It's just too obvious. :P

I mean, if people can name an orange an orange, and a hairdryer a hairdryer, who on earth came up with GARGOYLE? ...It sounds like gargle.

ksdfjhlksajf · 30-03-2009, 02:29 AM

Maybe the rhubarb named itself. Then it told someone "Hey I'm a rhubarb." Then the name stuck.

silverfaerychild · 30-03-2009, 02:32 AM

MAybe a magical fairy came and told em waht to say ..

The War Doctor · 30-03-2009, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuesday

I mean, if people can name an orange an orange, and a hairdryer a hairdryer, who on earth came up with GARGOYLE? ...It sounds like gargle.

Thats actually how gargoyles got their name; from the sound they make when water passes through them.

Schleier von Dunst · 30-03-2009, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob--Attorney-At-Law

Thats actually how gargoyles got their name; from the sound they make when water passes through them.

serious?

*feels thick*

sherlock holmes · 30-03-2009, 07:21 PM

Ooh i've always wondered.

Radiator. Radiate- or. I guess thats kinda of obvious.

Tuesday · 30-03-2009, 08:52 PM

Well I feel stupid :P

bexidecimal · 30-03-2009, 09:00 PM

but even if the words came from the roots of others. ho decided they should go together and who decided those words before that?

and who the hell came up with the word merge.. it sounds like a sound not a word.. do you know what i mean? lol

Isoverity · 30-03-2009, 11:03 PM

"How did people come up with names for things...?"

An interesting question from someone who named themselves Jessiwuzzle!

Casper_Fading · 30-03-2009, 11:37 PM

hehehe! There was a cartoon when I was younger called the Wuzzles and in grade 8 my best friend started calling me wuzzle... and it's stuck! *nods*