15 common words that used to mean completely different things

Bully (Dates to 1538)

Today’s meaning: someone cruel to those weaker.

Original meaning: sweetheart. According to Merriam-Webster, it most likely came from the old Dutch word boel, meaning ‘lover’.

Check out these frequently used idioms in the English language.

Prestigious (Dates to 1546)

Today’s meaning: honoured.

Original meaning: involving trickery, illusion, or conjuring. Interesting…’prestigious’ used to mean something a little closer to ‘presto’.

Matrix (Dates to 1555)

Today’s meaning: pattern of lines and spaces.

Original meaning: female breeding animal. This usage dates as far back as ancient Rome!

Find out which is the most misused word in the English language.

Garble (Dates to the 1400s)

Today’s meaning: cause something to be confusing.

Original meaning: sift, separate out impurities. Almost the opposite meaning!

Can you spell the hardest words in the English language? Find out here.

Nervous (Dates to the 1300s)

Today’s meaning: jumpy.

Original meaning: sinewy or strong.

Assassin (Dates to the 1200s)

Today’s meaning: killer of a VIP.

Original meaning: hashish eater. ‘Hashish’ is a hemp plant, and the word ‘assassin’ comes from an Arabic word meaning “drug addict’.

Interested in historical facts? Find out the famous famous moments in history that never actually happened.

Silly (Dates to the 1300s)

Today’s meaning: foolish or frivolous.

Original meaning: innocent or pitiable.

Nice (Dates to the 1300s)

Today’s meaning: kind, good.

Original meaning: foolish, wanton.

here are some ‘nice’ kindness quotes that will stay with you forever.

Backlog (Dates to 1684)

Today’s meaning: large number of jobs to be done.

Original meaning: largest log in the hearth. Yes, ‘backlog’ used to denote a literal log!

Dapper (Dates to the 1400s)

Today’s meaning: stylish.

Original meaning: brave. Either way, it’s an attractive quality!

Girl (Dates to the 1300s)

Today’s meaning: young female.

Original meaning: young person, either gender.

Discover the 10 things about raising girls mums wish they knew sooner.

Fantastic (Dates to the 1300s)

Today’s meaning: exceptionally good.

Original meaning: existing only in the imagination, like a fantasy.

Buxom (Dates to the 1100s)

Today’s meaning: large-breasted.

Original meaning: compliant or obedient. John Milton used it this way in Paradise Lost; he describes Death flying easily through “the buxom air.”

Fizzle (Dates to 1598)

Today’s meaning: fail weakly, die out.

Original meaning: fart quietly.

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Source: RD.com