Classic Toys

A few will be aware I have been known to speak on various subjects over the years. Fundamentally these all revolve around my favourite subject of etymology. Have always enjoyed bringing this fascinating subject to others. It’s not for me to say whether the audiences have, although many have asked me to return.

Thought it might be worthwhile sharing a snippet or two from these etymological presentations, continuing with Classic Toys. Lego, Ludo, Sindy and Barbie, just how and why were these classic toys and games so named? A look at why the marketing men of our childhood, and our children’s childhood, chose these often quite puzzling names. There is a PowerPoint presentation to accompany this talk if required.

Scalextric is simply an abbreviation of ‘scale’ and ‘electrics’. Not only boys toys, for some 40 years ago I was beaten at this in a night club by none other than Anne Diamond. A couple of years ago I was on her radio show and, off the air, mentioned the evening which she actually remembered – although she didn’t remember me – anyway we did race.

Jenga is a Swahili word meaning ‘build’. (and yes, I do know this is Lego)

Sindy was made by Pedigree Dolls and Toys and first marketed in 1954 in direct opposition to Barbie. It was chosen from a street survey of little girls out of four names – sadly the other three are not known. However we do know the original spelling was Cindy, as the girl’s name is usually seen. This had to be changed because one cannot register a common name as a trademark. Ironically the popularity of the doll resulted in an increase in the number of young girls being named ‘Cindy’ but with the alternative spelling of ‘Sindy’.

If you think you know someone who would like to hear me speak on this subject, drop me a line.

That's not what I meant (T)

Tact began in the much more literal sense of 'sense of touch', rather than 'thoughtfulness'.

Tall has only been used in the modern sense since the sixteenth century. It's original uses include 'brave', 'elegant' and 'handsome'.

Tamper or 'meddle' was first used to mean 'work in clay'.

Team, the group of people working together, was originally used to describe the young as in 'brood, litter'.

Temperament or 'mood', originally referred to body heat.

Terse or concise, was originally used to mean 'polished' or 'smoothed'.

Thews are 'muscles', but when first seen in English would be used to mean 'conduct, usage, custom'.

Thrift or economy, first meant simply 'thrive'.

Thrill is 'excite' today, but at first meant 'pierce'. I wouldn't want to be thrilled by a knife.

Tidy or 'neat' began in English as a synonym for 'plump'.

Tippler was not original one who drank the alcohol, but the one who served it.

Toil is to work today, especially to work hard or laboriously, originally it referred to an argument.

Toilet originally meant 'cloth', it coming from the French toile.

Tonic is today seen as a medicine which peps a person up. Originally? It referred to music.

Toy is a plaything today, but in the fourteenth century was the equivalent of 'flirting'.

Travel is to journey, originally it came from the French travailler 'to work'.

Treacle is a type of syrup, but in the fourteenth century was a salve or antidote.

Truncheon is a policeman's club today, originally it was a 'fragment' or something.

Tunnels today are routes underground, but originally they were long tubular nets narrowing at one end, used for catching birds.

Tyres are found covering wheels, thus we can see the origin as in the same root as 'attire' for that was what the word originally meant.