Category Etymology

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…

How canaries became a global symbol of warning

The phrase “canary in a coal mine” refers to an early warning signal of danger. It originates from the mining practices of the early 20th century, particularly in Britain and the United States. Coal miners would carry small yellow canaries…