The burden of writing history rests with the winner.

In Italy a turkey is a 'tacchino'. Clearly onomatopoeic but originally even here in Italy the turkey was associated with Turkey. We had other novelties coming from the New World which we still associate with Turkey, one being corn (mais) which is quite often called 'granturco', turkey wheat. Why thi...

Do I like this word?
Yes and no

Yep

descant SYLLABICATION: des·cant PRONUNCIATION: dsknt NOUN: 1. also dis·cant (ds-) Music a. An ornamental melody or counterpoint sung or played above a theme. b. The highest part sung in part music. 2. A discussion or discourse on a theme. INTRANSITIVE VERB: Inflected forms: des·cant·ed, des·cant·in...

boeotian –adjective 1. of or pertaining to Boeotia or its inhabitants. 2. dull; obtuse; without cultural refinement. –noun 3. a native or inhabitant of Boeotia. 4. a dull, obtuse person; Philistine. Dictionary.com As with todays Good Word 'laconic', also this word is from Old Greece. Not too politi...

Good

From gun, via autobahn, to banner gun PRONUNCIATION: gn NOUN: 1. A weapon consisting of a metal tube from which a projectile is fired at high velocity into a relatively flat trajectory. 2. A cannon with a long barrel and a relatively low angle of fire. 3. A portable firearm, such as a rifle or revol...

Actually, all cannons on board were and are named after a woman: Gunnhildr or Gunilda

At least the sailors weren't ejected from one of the gunner's daughter's orifices. Actually a son-of-a-gun was, often the women aboard gave birth, and that was done by the guns, creating many sons o' guns. Yes they did have women and boys aboard- they usually brought the powder to the gunners from ...

Any relationship between this and The Vatican? The name Vatican preceeds Christianity. Vatican hill is one outside ancient Rome (not part of the classical Seven Hills). It is supposed to be a place where Etruscan foretellers used to gather on the location of a holm tree reputed to be the oldest tre...

vaticinate SYLLABICATION: va·tic·i·nate PRONUNCIATION: v-ts-nt, v- VERB: Inflected forms: va·tic·i·nat·ed, va·tic·i·nat·ing, va·tic·i·nates TRANSITIVE VERB: To prophesy; foretell. See synonyms at foretell. INTRANSITIVE VERB: To be a prophet. ETYMOLOGY: Latin vticinr, vticint-, from vts, seer. See v...

And here I thought a tpouchstone was a lucky piece people reached into their pockets to touch for special favor[like crossing one's fingers] in times of need. Thanks Cacasenno. B. :) I'd missed that. I don't know how in the States you call a gesture to propitiate luck or, more specifically, to cast...

Brings to my mind the Latin minutia 'minute' or 'little part'.
Could it be related?