The Dutch origins of the word 'geek'

'Geek' is a word borrowed from Dutch 'gekk'. The word entered the English language some time around 1914.

geek [noun] [1914]

• a carnival performer often billed as a wild man whose act usually includes biting the head off a live chicken or snake
• a person often of an intellectual bent who is disliked
• an enthusiast or expert especially in a technological field or activity

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note: Likely comes from Germanic words like the Dutch gekk or Middle Low German geck both meaning fool.
Etymology: Probably from English dialect 'geek, geck' fool, from Low German 'geck' from Middle Low German

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Do you speak a little Romani when you say 'shiv'?

'Shiv' is a word borrowed from Romani 'chiv'. The word entered the English language some time around 1915.

shiv [noun] [1915]

Knife

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note: Probably from Romani chiv ‘blade’.
Etymology: Alteration of 'chiv' of unknown origin

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Do you speak a little Hindi when you say 'Bangalore torpedo'?

'Bangalore torpedo' is a word borrowed from Hindi 'Bangalore'. The word entered the English language some time around 1913.

Bangalore torpedo [noun] [1913]

A metal tube that contains explosives and a firing mechanism and is used to cut barbed wire and detonate buried mines

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Etymology: India

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Did you know that 'pissoir' is actually French?

'Pissoir' is a word borrowed from French 'pissoir'. The word entered the English language some time around 1919.

pissoir [noun] [1919]

A public urinal usually located on the street in some European countries

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note: When it comes to toilet facilities the French always do march to a different drum.
Etymology: French, from Middle French, from 'pisser' to urinate, from Old French 'pisser, pissier'

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When you hear 'moron' are you hearing English or Greek?

'Moron' is a word borrowed from Greek 'mōros'. The word entered the English language some time around 1910.

moron [noun] [1910]

• a person affected with mild mental retardation
• a very stupid person

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Etymology: Irregular from Greek 'mōros' foolish, stupid

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The French origins of the word 'chandelle'

'Chandelle' is a word borrowed from French 'chandelle'. The word entered the English language some time around 1918.

chandelle [noun] [1918]

An abrupt climbing turn of an airplane in which the momentum of the plane is used to attain a higher rate of climb

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Etymology: French, literally, candle

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The word 'flechette' originally came from French as 'fléchette'

'Flechette' is a word borrowed from French 'fléchette'. The word entered the English language some time around 1915.

flechette [noun] [1915]

A small dart-shaped projectile that is clustered in an explosive warhead, dropped as a missile from an airplane, or fir...

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Etymology: French, from diminutive of 'flèche' arrow

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When you say 'pronto' are you speaking Spanish (USA)?

'Pronto' is a word borrowed from Spanish (USA) 'pronto'. The word entered the English language some time around 1911.

pronto [adverb] [1911]

Without delay

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Etymology: Spanish, from Latin 'promptus' prompt

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The German origins of the word 'strafe'

'Strafe' is a word borrowed from German 'strafe'. The word entered the English language some time around 1915.

strafe [verb] [1915]

To rake (as ground troops) with fire at close range and especially with machine-gun fire from low-flying aircraft

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Etymology: German 'Gott strafe England' may God punish England, German propaganda slogan during World War I

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Did you know that 'vitamin' is actually German?

'Vitamin' is a word borrowed from German 'vitamin'. The word entered the English language some time around 1912.

vitamin [noun] [circa 1912]

Any of various organic substances that are essential in minute quantities to the nutrition of most animals and some pla...

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Etymology: Alteration of 'vitamine' from Latin 'vita' life + English 'amine'

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