Explore the surprising Battlefields origins of common terms like "boycott" and "freelancer" in this enlightening journey through language shaped by history.
By: TexTribe
Boycott
Originated from Capt. Charles Boycott, ostracized by his community in 1880, sparking a new term for protest.
Deadline
From Civil War prisons, a line prisoners couldn’t cross or risk being shot. Now, it’s a due date.
Freelancer
Stemming from medieval mercenaries wielding free lances, now refers to self-employed workers.
Trench Coat
Developed for British officers in WWI, this waterproof coat became a civilian fashion staple.
Jargon
From Old French ‘jargoun’, describing the indecipherable chatter of birds, akin to soldiers' slang.
Shrapnel
Named after Henry Shrapnel, who invented a type of exploding artillery shell in the 1780s.
Bikini
Named after Bikini Atoll, site of nuclear tests in 1946, reflecting the 'explosive' effect of the swimsuit.
Sabotage
From workers throwing wooden shoes (sabots) into machinery to disrupt production during disputes.
Gadget
First used in a naval context during WWI for any small mechanical thing whose name is forgotten.
Vandal
From the Vandals, a tribe whose destruction of Rome in 455 AD became synonymous with senseless destruction.