I know I’ve done it–when I need a specific item, and it has an unusual name, ‘doohickey’ is usually the first word that comes to mind. Working here at Lehman’s, I use ‘doohickey’ more often than I should, but I’m getting the hang of the more unusual product names. As a history geek, I find the roots of these words fascinating, and I hope you do too.
Hod, for instance. You can use a roomy wooden one to carry your produce, or a sturdy steel one for coal, kindling or ashes at your fireside. And it’s been in use since the late 16th century, with the same meaning. It’s thought that the word ‘hod’ developed from 12th century Middle English and Old French words that meant basket and cradle. When you look at the shapes of our Maine Garden Hod and our Coal Hods, you can see that some things really don’t change!
Karen Johnson
Web Copywriter, Lehman’s
Note: A big thanks to Douglas Harper, and his website www.etymonline.com/columns/bio.htm; and the Oxford English Dictionary for their outstanding online reference materials.
