Just a little something that could be fun/interesting that I think will make solid use of Hexus' deep and wide fountain of knowledge!
Post a fact that is, well, a fact (you know, true), that's interesting or useful, and which you think most people might not know.
That's it. :D
(Oh, and post a source if you can.)
I'll kick off...
Many of the English words for meat, and the animals that meats comes from, derive from (and illustrate) the noble/commoner, Norman/Saxon origins of England.
Cow vs. Beef
Calf vs Veal
Pig vs. Pork
Sheep vs. Mutton
Deer vs. Venison
The words don't seem to have anything in common with one another. That's because the animal names have Saxon origins whereas the very different meat names come from Norman origin.
Why? The Saxon commoners, speaking Old English, looked after the animals whereas the noble Norman Lords (with their 'French' origins) didn't concern themselves with such things, they just ate the meat. Thus, we have French origin words for meats and Saxon origin words for the animals that provide them.
French words for the animal and meats today:
Vache - Boeuf
Veau - Veau
Cochon - Porc
Moutons - Mouton
Cerf - Venaison
Chicken is an odd-ball, but Pullet (Young Chicken) maintains the divide with the French being Poulet. Similarly, 'Poultry' traces back to 'Pouletrie'.
(As one would imagine, this divide continues on into other areas of life too.)
Source: https://www.dictionary.com/e/animal-...e-become-food/