Category Etymology

The carved wonders of Unakoti, Tripura

Unakoti, in Tripura’s Unakoti district, is an ancient Shaivite pilgrimage and archaeological marvel, famed for its colossal rock-cut sculptures and intricate bas-reliefs. Bas-reliefs are shallow carvings on a flat surface where figures slightly stand out from the background. The name…

Aphelion: Earth’s farthest point from the Sun

Aphelion is an astronomical phenomenon that occurs when Earth is at the farthest point in its orbit around the Sun. The term comes from the Greek words apo meaning “away from” and helios meaning “sun.” Together, they describe the position…

The curious case of the Bombay Duck

Bombay duck is not a duck but a lizardfish (Harpadon nehereus) found in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, notably off Mumbai’s coast. Lizardfish are slender, soft-bodied predators with heads that resemble lizards and mouths lined with sharp teeth.…

How Dongri gave the world Dungarees

Dungarees are a type of durable cotton garment, commonly recognized as bib and brace overalls or trousers. They were originally made from a coarse cotton fabric with a twill weave, which gave it extra durability and resistance to wear. First…

How a sweet lime became “mosambi” and “battayi”

The sweet lime (Citrus limetta) traveled across continents before becoming the familiar mosambi of India. Its origins trace back to Mozambique, where Portuguese traders first encountered the fruit and brought it to India’s west coast. There it became mosambi, a local…

How August got its name

The month of August is named after Augustus Caesar (63 BC-14 AD), the first Roman emperor. Originally, the Romans called this month Sextilis, meaning the sixth month of their early 10-month calendar. In 8 BCE, the Roman Senate renamed it…

Reading nature’s signs before tsunami hits

A tsunami is a series of powerful sea waves caused by sudden disturbances in or near large bodies of water, most often triggered by undersea earthquakes. The word “tsunami” comes from Japanese, combining tsu (harbour) and nami (wave), reflecting the…