Ever wondered whose names you’re using when you read Braille in an elevator, pour pasteurized milk, or check the weather in Fahrenheit? Eponyms are everywhere—and they add up. The English language contains about 35,000 eponymic words, according to The Australian National University.
They also quietly shape daily life: UNCTAD says ships carry around 80% of world trade by volume. Also, Perkins School for the Blind, drawing on UNESCO’s World Braille Usage, notes that Braille (devised in 1824) now has codes for 133 languages.
Let’s look at 10 things you use or hear about that are named after their inventors.
The Boycott
We use the word “boycott” when we stop buying something to show we are angry. This word comes from a real person, Captain Charles Boycott, who was a land agent in Ireland back in 1880.
When people disliked his actions, they refused to talk to or work for him. This act of protest became known as a “boycott.”
The Sandwich
When you eat a sandwich, you are eating a food named after a person. This word comes from an English nobleman named John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, who lived in the 1700s.
He liked to eat meat between two pieces of bread so he could eat at his desk without getting his hands dirty. This quick meal became very popular with others, and soon got his name.
The Fahrenheit Scale
The temperature scale we use in the U.S. is called Fahrenheit. This name comes from a scientist named Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit, who lived in the 1700s.
He created the first modern thermometer that used mercury and developed the scale we use to measure the temperature outside.
Braille
The special system of reading for people who cannot see is called Braille. This system uses raised dots that people can feel with their fingers. It was created by Louis Braille, who became blind when he was a child.
He came up with his system in 1824. Louis Braille wanted to help other blind people read and write, and his name lives on in this fantastic system.
The Jacuzzi
When people sit in a Jacuzzi, they are in a special tub with hot, moving water. The name “Jacuzzi” comes from a family of inventors, the Jacuzzi brothers, who made the first special pump for bathtubs in the 1950s.
They installed a motor in a tub to circulate the water. This was a new way to help a family member with a health problem. Their name became the name for this kind of tub.
Shrapnel
The word “shrapnel” is used to talk about small pieces of metal from a bomb. This word comes from a man named Henry Shrapnel, an English officer. He created a new type of shell for cannons in 1784.
This shell would explode in the air, sending out many small, hot balls that could hit people far away.
The diesel engine
The engine that many big trucks and buses use is called a diesel engine. The engine derives its name from its inventor, Rudolf Diesel, a German engineer.
He made the first successful engine in 1897. Rudolf Diesel wanted an engine that was more powerful and used fuel more efficiently.
The saxophone
The saxophone, a long, curved metal horn with keys, is a popular musical instrument. The instrument gets its name from its inventor, Adolphe Sax.
He was a music maker in Belgium and came up with the idea for the saxophone in 1846. Adolphe Sax wanted to create an instrument that was both loud and versatile, suitable for both band and choral settings.
The Silhouette
A silhouette is a black picture of a person’s side face. This type of art became popular in the 1700s.
The word comes from a man named Étienne de Silhouette, a French government official who established strict regulations regarding money.
People made fun of him by drawing cheap black pictures of him and others, and ultimately, the simple, inexpensive art style got its name.
The guillotine
The guillotine is a machine that was used to c*t people’s heads off in a speedy way. The name comes from a French doctor named Joseph-Ignace Guillotin.
He lived in the 1700s. He did not invent the machine, but he said that all people should have the same fast, easy, and painless way to be put to death.
His name was used for the machine, despite his wishes.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. It is not intended to be professional advice.
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