WORD STORIES V3L20V4L19

Many words have interesting stories about their origins.

teddy bear a soft toy bear Named for a U.S. President, Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt

salt a natural white substance that is used especially to flavor or preserve food

vandal a person who deliberately destroys or damages property

watt a unit for measuring electrical power

atlas a book of maps

cereal breakfast food made from grain

capital having the main offices of a government in the form A, B, C, etc., rather than a, b, c

muscle a body tissue that can contract and produce movement

ritzy very fashionable and expensive often in a showy way

palace the official home of a king, queen, president, etc. a very large and impressive house

panic a state or feeling of extreme fear that makes someone unable to act or think normally

vandalism the act of deliberately destroying or damaging property

flashy bright or fancy in a way that is meant to attract attention

popcorn corn in the form of hard yellow seeds that burst open and become soft and white when they are heated

gargantuan very large in size or amount

jeep used for a small truck that can be driven over very rough surfaces

china a hard white material that is made of baked clay and used to make plates, bowls, etc.

funny bone a place at the back of your elbow where you feel a painful tingling sensation when it is hit

pineapple large fruit that grows on a tropical tree and that has thick skin and very sweet, juicy, yellow flesh

eavesdrop to listen secretly to what other people are saying