Member-only story
The Astonishing Origins of 6 Common Compound Words
The “Cob” in “Cobweb,” the “Hodge” in “Hodgepodge,” and more lovely old oddities that still cling to life in compounds.
Most compound words work just fine separately or together: Friends of both Hay and Stack might enjoy watching the football game with Hay one day, attending Stack’s book club meeting the next, and going to the joint Haystack karaoke gathering the following night. Just as acquaintances of Shoe and Lace are used to seeing them out and about on their own, or chatting with the pair of them at the Shoelace key party in Santa Cruz. Ugh, why the hell did I make them swingers?! That was an insane choice! I knew this metaphor was a bad idea.
Anyway, the point is that, like the most annoying couple you know, some compound words are so codependent that it kind of breaks your brain when you experience them in their separated form. This is a tribute to six of these beautiful weirdos.
“That’s a really nice web,” you might be heard to say, upon observing a particularly well-constructed cobweb. “Who made this web …” you might continue, encouraged by the…
