#WordWednesday

I'm not sure why we do this, but in English many common names have come into use in non-name forms. For example: We use a jack to change a tire. A stevedore works on ships and docks. A jane is a girl or woman. We send a bill to someone who buys something, but if they don't pay, we might sue them. If they rob us, they're really in trouble. When it's too sunny we might don a hat.

We've also taken many common words into the language from a job designation…which became a surname...and then a common noun. Got that? How about a Wright – someone who makes a thing, such as a wheelwright, a millwright, etc. Then there's a Smith, a Clark (or clerk), a Webster (female weaver), Baker, Brewer, Hunter, Thatcher, Glover, Gardener, Archer…it's a very long list.

I can’t help but wonder if someday we will meet Mr. and Ms. Programmer or Ms. Mechanic.