EVERYDAY ENIGMAS

10 Common Things You Didn't Know Had Names

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Human language gives us the wonderful ability to name stuff. Calling things by their name allows us to communicate with each other and get our daily tasks done; that's why the lexicon is so important when learning a language.

However, there are some things we see and use every day that often escape our attention. Do you know what to call the little fleshy portion between your nose and your upper lip? And what about those plastic tips at the ends of your shoelaces? Believe it or not, all these things have a name.

Today, we're going to tell you about 10 common things with uncommon names.

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Whether you're a dog person or a cat person, get ready to be charmed by this term. Vibrissae, the lesser-known name for what we dub as whiskers, grace the faces of nearly all mammals.

But these vibrissae aren't just cute; they play crucial roles in an animal's life, serving as tools for locomotion and exploration. Essentially, they're super-sensors that allow your furry friend to perceive and navigate its surroundings.

There are already too many cats named "Whiskers," so if you want to be truly original, here you have a name for your next pet.

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We humans have integrated the function performed by whiskers into our brains, specifically the somatosensory cortex.

Now, imagine if you did have whiskers; do you know the name of that part of your face where they would be? When you make a duck face for a selfie, you're not only pouting your lips, you're also moving the philtrum, that space between your nose and upper lip.

The philtrum is different in each person; it is longer in some people and shorter in others. Additionally, the length of the philtrum is significantly increased with age. Embrace the distinctive charm of your philtrum. After all, it's one of those remarkable details that makes you uniquely you!

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Mastering the art of tying shoelaces is a childhood milestone that becomes an everyday task as the years go by.

While the act of tying may seem simple, the intricate dance of threading laces through the tiny holes in your new sneakers is a bit more complex. Well, this activity would be a lot more difficult without the aglets, those plastic or metal tips at the end of the laces.

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Lemniscate is the technical name for what we know as the infinity symbol. We bet that many people are discovering the true name of their tattoo with this word.

The brilliance of the infinity symbol lies in its accuracy, as it allows you to transit its curve endlessly. It's a visual representation of exploration without limits, symbolizing boundless possibilities and perpetual journeys along its shape.

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If you are one of those who enjoy a good glass of wine, you'll find this information interesting.

Wine bottles usually have this kind of indent at the base, which is known as a punt in the world of winemakers. While skeptics may argue that the purpose of the punt is to create the illusion of more liquid in the bottle, the truth is that a deeper punt usually indicates a higher-quality wine. So next time you go to the supermarket, you know which part of the bottle to check! It might provide a valuable clue!

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This word may be related to the previous one. Are you familiar with that sick feeling after drinking or eating too much? If you reached the punt of the bottle yesterday, chances are you're experiencing a touch of crapulence today, which is that unpleasant feeling or discomfort.

Consider it as your body's way of sending you a crystal-clear message: maybe a bit less next time!

Image: Liv Bruce

Forget about unpleasant sensations. Now, we move on to the world of pure joy!

Rain is a divisive topic; some people love it, others hate it. Yet, there's a universal delight that most of us enjoy: the smell that comes from the wet soil after a rainy day. Besides smelling it, you can also name it. That scent is called petrichor, and it's produced by bacteria.

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This word is borrowed from French and is rightly defined as "careless handwriting."

Sometimes, reading a doctor's prescription feels like cracking a secret code. But here's the interesting part: If you show a doctor a prescription written by a colleague, they will probably decipher it perfectly. Perhaps there's a mysterious class on griffonage at medical school.

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Your daily coffee ritual, that blend of flavor and warmth, wouldn't be complete without this humble hero: the zarf. If you're a coffee lover, you know what we're talking about. That seemingly simple piece of paper or cardboard isn't just an accessory; it's your trusty zarf. It has a very important function: to keep you from burning your hands, ensuring each sip is a safe delight.

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This funny word represents very well what it stands for: the ringing of bells. The term has its roots in the Latin verb tintinnare, an onomatopoeic word. Much like "click," "clap," "whisper," and "tinkle," tintinnare is an imitation of the sound it represents. Onomatopoeias bring words to life, giving them the power to evoke sensations, emotions, images, and sounds in the minds of those who listen.

Show me the money!

What do you call your money? Learn 11 names from greenbacks to Benjamins

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Money makes the world go round, and in the U.S., there are more ways to talk about it than you might expect. From "bucks" and "greenbacks" to "dough" and "Benjamins," Americans have come up with a colorful range of slang and idioms to refer to cash. Did you know about these 11? Which ones do you use?

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The first entry on the list is probably the most used: The word cash was first recorded in the late 1500s, and its origins can be traced through the French word casse, meaning "case" or "box."

That, in turn, comes from the Latin word capsa, which also means "case" or "coffer." Both terms refer to containers used to store money.

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This self-explanatory term has been used in the U.S. for a long time, and it refers, quite simply, to the fact that paper dollar bills are green in color.

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The slang term "greenbacks" for U.S. paper money dates back to the Civil War era. At that time, the government began printing banknotes with green ink on the back.

This distinctive color was used as a way to help prevent counterfeiting. The nickname stuck around and is still used today to refer to cash.

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Much like the slang term "green," the use of "lettuce" to describe dollar bills dates back to the early 1900s and also references their green color.

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The slang term "coin" is often used to refer to money in general, and it is not limited to just metal coins.

Possibly, this has to do with the fact that coins have been used as currency for thousands of years, making their association with money strong enough for the term to become a generic way to refer to currency.

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There are a few different theories about why the slang term "cheddar" came to mean money. One of the most widely accepted explanations links it to government-issued cheese.

This cheese, often included in welfare packages, became associated with government benefits. Over time, cheddar shifted from meaning actual cheese to representing the money or assistance people received.

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As we have seen so far, food has been a generous source of slang. The word "bread" has been used as lingo for money since the 1930s.

Food is one of the most basic reasons people need money, and the slang term "bread" likely comes from the fact that bread is a staple food in many households.

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The last food-related term, "bacon," refers to money or earnings in phrases like "bring home the bacon." This expression dates back to the early 1920s and is widely believed to come from a county fair game in which participants would win a greased pig if they managed to catch it.

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"Benjamins" is another self-explanatory money-related term. Franklin has been on the $100 bill since 1914. Less commonly, other dollar bills may also be referred to by the people depicted on them, such as Washingtons, Lincolns, Hamiltons, and Jacksons.

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An idiom used to describe a large amount of money, commonly a thousand dollars, "big one" has been a popular slang term since at least the mid-1800s.

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The word "shekels" has been used in English since at least the 1820s. It comes from the ancient shekel, a type of coin used by the Hebrews, Babylonians, and Phoenicians in ancient times.