Virtually everyone knows that the drink \u201cChampagne\u201d is made from grapes that come from the Champagne region of France \u2013 but how many other place name-related words can you name?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019ve picked 12 of our favorite obscure words that come from place names \u2013 explaining what they mean, how the word is commonly used, and how the name came about!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even though a tuxedo is seen as being very formal today, back in the 1880s it was actually a fashion statement that broke from the formal norms of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A tuxedo jacket is a dinner jacket without the long tails at the back. This was a rebellious statement started by young men in the village of Tuxedo Park, around 50 miles north of the Manhattan district of New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Soon after, this style of jacket picked up the name \u2018tuxedo\u2019 and the name has stuck ever since. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just like a Canadian is someone from Canada, a Lesbian was originally used to describe someone from the Greek Island of Lesbos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, how did it become a word that described a person\u2019s sexual orientation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To understand this, we need to take a quick glance at Greek poetry. The famous poet Sappho lived on Lesbos and wrote a series of poems about relationships. Some of these verses focused on women who had passionate relationships with other women \u2013 and, as such, the term lesbian came to mean a woman who is sexually attracted to other women. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The words \u201cdenim\u201d and \u201cjeans\u201d are closely related \u2013 and they both come from place names.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You might be expected the material used to make one of America\u2019s favourite garments comes from the U.S. \u2013 but it\u2019s actually French. The material was originally created in the city of N\u012dmes \u2013 and \u201cof N\u012dmes\u201d translates into French as \u201cde N\u012dmes\u201d. Over time, this has become shortened to \u201cdenim\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, what about \u201cjeans\u201d \u2013 another French place name? In fact, this word actually comes from the Italian city of Genoa. Genoa was originally called \u201cGenes\u201d and denim trousers were popular with the sailors of the Genoese navy stationed there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, there are thousands of popular marathons around the world, including the New York marathon, the London marathon, and the Boston marathon \u2013 where competitors run 26.2 miles in the shortest possible time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The origin of this word also involves running \u2013 but it wasn\u2019t a race against the clock. According to Greek legend, the Greek messenger Philippides was taking part in the Battle of Marathon against the Persian army in 490 BC when he saw a Persian ship change course and sail towards Athens. To stop them getting there and falsely claiming victory over the Greeks, he is said to have dropped his weapons and run to Athens without stopping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The accuracy of the story has been questioned over the years \u2013 but the name \u201cMarathon\u201d was used to describe the long-distance race that was debuted at the Athens Olympic Games in 1896. <\/p>\n\n\n\n