Ben Zimmer
@benzimmer.bsky.social
Linguist, lexicographer, language commentator, all-around word nut.
https://linktr.ee/benzimmer
https://linktr.ee/benzimmer
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
Antedating seems like a hobby a lot of you would enjoy, especially after you hear Ben's great stories about his discoveries!
Watch: youtu.be/W5SkQo_Dw48
Read: grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/ant...
Listen: pod.link/173429229
Watch: youtu.be/W5SkQo_Dw48
Read: grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/ant...
Listen: pod.link/173429229
Finding the true history of words, with Ben Zimmer. Grammar Girl 1129
YouTube video by Grammar Girl
youtu.be
November 4, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Antedating seems like a hobby a lot of you would enjoy, especially after you hear Ben's great stories about his discoveries!
Watch: youtu.be/W5SkQo_Dw48
Read: grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/ant...
Listen: pod.link/173429229
Watch: youtu.be/W5SkQo_Dw48
Read: grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/ant...
Listen: pod.link/173429229
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
Remember how @benzimmer.bsky.social and I talked about the origin of "Big Easy" in last week's podcast?
The show was all about finding earlier uses of words.
Well, it happened again! Ben emailed yesterday to say Barry Popik found even earlier uses of "Big Easy" from 1952.
The show was all about finding earlier uses of words.
Well, it happened again! Ben emailed yesterday to say Barry Popik found even earlier uses of "Big Easy" from 1952.
November 4, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Remember how @benzimmer.bsky.social and I talked about the origin of "Big Easy" in last week's podcast?
The show was all about finding earlier uses of words.
Well, it happened again! Ben emailed yesterday to say Barry Popik found even earlier uses of "Big Easy" from 1952.
The show was all about finding earlier uses of words.
Well, it happened again! Ben emailed yesterday to say Barry Popik found even earlier uses of "Big Easy" from 1952.
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
Jazz was such a big deal that the American Dialect Society picked "jazz" as the Word of the Century for the 1900s.
We also talked about the origin of "The Big Easy," "hella," "scalawag," and "Ms." — great stories all!
Listen as you're getting ready for the game tonight: pod.link/173429229
We also talked about the origin of "The Big Easy," "hella," "scalawag," and "Ms." — great stories all!
Listen as you're getting ready for the game tonight: pod.link/173429229
pod.link
October 31, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Jazz was such a big deal that the American Dialect Society picked "jazz" as the Word of the Century for the 1900s.
We also talked about the origin of "The Big Easy," "hella," "scalawag," and "Ms." — great stories all!
Listen as you're getting ready for the game tonight: pod.link/173429229
We also talked about the origin of "The Big Easy," "hella," "scalawag," and "Ms." — great stories all!
Listen as you're getting ready for the game tonight: pod.link/173429229
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
Baseball players on the West Coast were talking about "jazz curves" and telling each other to "give it some of the old jazz" (meaning vim and pep).
The word traveled from San Francisco to Chicago to New Orleans, becoming the name for one of America's most iconic musical genres. 2/3
The word traveled from San Francisco to Chicago to New Orleans, becoming the name for one of America's most iconic musical genres. 2/3
October 31, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Baseball players on the West Coast were talking about "jazz curves" and telling each other to "give it some of the old jazz" (meaning vim and pep).
The word traveled from San Francisco to Chicago to New Orleans, becoming the name for one of America's most iconic musical genres. 2/3
The word traveled from San Francisco to Chicago to New Orleans, becoming the name for one of America's most iconic musical genres. 2/3
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
Are you watching the World Series tonight?
Well, here's a fun fact to share with your fellow fans:
In this week's podcast, @benzimmer.bsky.social explains how "jazz" was baseball slang from 1912. Yes, "jazz" started as a BASEBALL term! 1/3
🎧 pod.link/173429229
Well, here's a fun fact to share with your fellow fans:
In this week's podcast, @benzimmer.bsky.social explains how "jazz" was baseball slang from 1912. Yes, "jazz" started as a BASEBALL term! 1/3
🎧 pod.link/173429229
October 31, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Are you watching the World Series tonight?
Well, here's a fun fact to share with your fellow fans:
In this week's podcast, @benzimmer.bsky.social explains how "jazz" was baseball slang from 1912. Yes, "jazz" started as a BASEBALL term! 1/3
🎧 pod.link/173429229
Well, here's a fun fact to share with your fellow fans:
In this week's podcast, @benzimmer.bsky.social explains how "jazz" was baseball slang from 1912. Yes, "jazz" started as a BASEBALL term! 1/3
🎧 pod.link/173429229
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
new indie puzzle highlights, feat. @xws.bsky.social and a double dose of @benzimmer.bsky.social: blog.bewilderinglypuzzles.com/2025/10/indi...
Indie puzzle highlights
October 20: Pitch Perfect (Ben Zimmer, Defector) October 21: Untitled (Ben Zimmer, Slate) October 25: Puzzmo Mini Crossword #25 (Brooke H...
blog.bewilderinglypuzzles.com
October 30, 2025 at 5:02 PM
new indie puzzle highlights, feat. @xws.bsky.social and a double dose of @benzimmer.bsky.social: blog.bewilderinglypuzzles.com/2025/10/indi...
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
Finding the true history of words, with Ben Zimmer. Grammar Girl 1129
YouTube video by Grammar Girl
youtu.be
October 30, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
This week, I talked with @benzimmer.bsky.social about the linguistic detective work of antedating words — finding earlier usages than those published in dictionaries.
Learn about the surprising origins of "Ms.," "scallywag," and the baseball history of "jazz"!
🎧 Listen now: pod.link/173429229
Learn about the surprising origins of "Ms.," "scallywag," and the baseball history of "jazz"!
🎧 Listen now: pod.link/173429229
October 30, 2025 at 3:10 PM
This week, I talked with @benzimmer.bsky.social about the linguistic detective work of antedating words — finding earlier usages than those published in dictionaries.
Learn about the surprising origins of "Ms.," "scallywag," and the baseball history of "jazz"!
🎧 Listen now: pod.link/173429229
Learn about the surprising origins of "Ms.," "scallywag," and the baseball history of "jazz"!
🎧 Listen now: pod.link/173429229
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
live now with today's @slate.com from @benzimmer.bsky.social, @defector.com by @benzimmer.bsky.social and a blog puz from @giltcomplex.bsky.social!
www.twitch.tv/crossweirdtv
www.twitch.tv/crossweirdtv
October 22, 2025 at 10:11 PM
live now with today's @slate.com from @benzimmer.bsky.social, @defector.com by @benzimmer.bsky.social and a blog puz from @giltcomplex.bsky.social!
www.twitch.tv/crossweirdtv
www.twitch.tv/crossweirdtv
October 21, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
The Crossword, Oct. 20: Pitch Perfect defector.com/the-crosswor...
The Crossword, Oct. 20: Pitch Perfect | Defector
Let’s get in the solving zone. This week’s puzzle was constructed by Ben Zimmer (who created our first official Defector puzzle two years ago!), and edited by Hoang-Kim Vu. Ben is a linguist,…
defector.com
October 20, 2025 at 3:44 PM
The Crossword, Oct. 20: Pitch Perfect defector.com/the-crosswor...
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
Is "-fishing" a new libfix? I look into "chatfishing" along with "hatfishing" and "curtfishing" — and, of course, "catfishing." | ht @benzimmer.bsky.social @myl1947.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/fritinan...
open.substack.com/pub/fritinan...
Word of the week: Chatfishing
Fishy business, on and offline.
open.substack.com
October 20, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Is "-fishing" a new libfix? I look into "chatfishing" along with "hatfishing" and "curtfishing" — and, of course, "catfishing." | ht @benzimmer.bsky.social @myl1947.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/fritinan...
open.substack.com/pub/fritinan...
I've got the @slate.com Sunday crossword (with a special shout-out to 34-Down)
slate.com/life/2025/10...
slate.com/life/2025/10...
October 19, 2025 at 2:39 PM
I've got the @slate.com Sunday crossword (with a special shout-out to 34-Down)
slate.com/life/2025/10...
slate.com/life/2025/10...
I'm back again with another Saturday Stumper (super-tough @newsday.bsky.social crossword).
brainsonly.com/global/netwo...
www.gamelab.com/games/stans-...
brainsonly.com/global/netwo...
www.gamelab.com/games/stans-...
October 18, 2025 at 9:52 PM
I'm back again with another Saturday Stumper (super-tough @newsday.bsky.social crossword).
brainsonly.com/global/netwo...
www.gamelab.com/games/stans-...
brainsonly.com/global/netwo...
www.gamelab.com/games/stans-...
October 8, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
16-Across: Tolkien tree hidden in "Tolkien tree" (three letters) slate.trib.al/ohM0TJ4
Slate Crossword: Yarn Manufacturer? (11 Letters)
Ready for some wordplay? Sharpen your skills with Slate’s puzzle for Oct. 8, 2025.
slate.trib.al
October 8, 2025 at 9:52 AM
16-Across: Tolkien tree hidden in "Tolkien tree" (three letters) slate.trib.al/ohM0TJ4
Puzzmo - Cross|word
Play Cross|word on Puzzmo, Take a hint.
www.puzzmo.com
October 4, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
solve today's midi crossword by @benzimmer.bsky.social (edited by @acommonrose.bsky.social !) to see what 1992 solo debut album makes a marquee appearance (and what apt answer he paired it with)
www.puzzmo.com/puzzle/2025-...
www.puzzmo.com/puzzle/2025-...
Puzzmo - Cross|word
Play Cross|word on Puzzmo, Take a hint.
www.puzzmo.com
October 3, 2025 at 5:36 PM
solve today's midi crossword by @benzimmer.bsky.social (edited by @acommonrose.bsky.social !) to see what 1992 solo debut album makes a marquee appearance (and what apt answer he paired it with)
www.puzzmo.com/puzzle/2025-...
www.puzzmo.com/puzzle/2025-...
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
live now streaming the regulars + puzzles from @benzimmer.bsky.social, @gppasco.bsky.social, erik agard and a turtle downs only on green!
www.twitch.tv/crossweirdtv
www.twitch.tv/crossweirdtv
October 3, 2025 at 1:06 AM
live now streaming the regulars + puzzles from @benzimmer.bsky.social, @gppasco.bsky.social, erik agard and a turtle downs only on green!
www.twitch.tv/crossweirdtv
www.twitch.tv/crossweirdtv
Big day for lexicographical unboxing! Received the just-published 12th edition of @merriam-webster.com's Collegiate Dictionary (a big surprise to everyone in the dictionary game) and @stefanfatsis.bsky.social's long-awaited journey through modern lexicography, UNABRIDGED. Get 'em both!
October 1, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Big day for lexicographical unboxing! Received the just-published 12th edition of @merriam-webster.com's Collegiate Dictionary (a big surprise to everyone in the dictionary game) and @stefanfatsis.bsky.social's long-awaited journey through modern lexicography, UNABRIDGED. Get 'em both!
September 23, 2025 at 2:29 PM
September 10, 2025 at 3:47 PM
The @wired.com video that @mixedlinguist.bsky.social and I did a while back on the life cycle of slang got featured today on @upworthy.com! www.upworthy.com/linguists-ex...
Linguists explain why some slang words come and go quickly while others have staying power
"On fleek" was a flash in the pan, but "cool" has stuck around for nearly a century.
www.upworthy.com
September 10, 2025 at 2:04 AM
The @wired.com video that @mixedlinguist.bsky.social and I did a while back on the life cycle of slang got featured today on @upworthy.com! www.upworthy.com/linguists-ex...
August 20, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
live now with some regular stuff + puzzles from @evanbirnholz.bsky.social, @kayebrown.bsky.social and the stumper by @benzimmer.bsky.social on green!
www.twitch.tv/crossweirdtv
www.twitch.tv/crossweirdtv
August 18, 2025 at 12:40 AM
live now with some regular stuff + puzzles from @evanbirnholz.bsky.social, @kayebrown.bsky.social and the stumper by @benzimmer.bsky.social on green!
www.twitch.tv/crossweirdtv
www.twitch.tv/crossweirdtv