My mother's favorite word etymology - and I agree it's pretty nifty - was maverick

[conuly]

A maverick is, literally, an unbranded cow. Sam Maverick refused to brand his cattle. Mommy just could not get over that semantic drift.

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tarheel / rosin heel etymology (Note: historical quotes involve racist language and ideas)

Fat-tailed sheep with tail carts, and also the Bible, I guess?

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Comments

[ethelmay]

"The name was a common one in Napoleon's army, and if there was a real person at the base of the character in the play, he has not been certainly identified by etymologists, though memoirs of Waterloo (one published in Paris in 1822) mention "one of our principal piqueurs, named Chauvin, who had returned with Napoleon from Elba," which action implies the sort of loyalty displayed by the theatrical character." But yeah, basically, a character in an 1831 vaudeville. https://www.etymonline.com/word/chauvinism

[conuly]

Thank you!