A vegetable that is a fruit, a bear that’s a marsupial, a worm that’s a caterpillar. What are you talking about?
There is a special term for “wrongly named” things: misnomers. This is what we’ll be exploring today. Prepare to be amazed!
- How am I bald?
The bald eagle isn’t bald — it has white feathers on the head and is the only eagle unique to North America. Its wingspan can reach up to 7 feet and its main source of food is fish.
- I could dig up your backyard really quick
A prairie dog is not a dog, but a charming rodent typically found in North America. They are hard-working and family-oriented. They build burrows and deep tunnels and live in large colonies.
- The Turkey Saga
Many, many years ago, the Turks would import guinea fowl from East Africa to Europe. In European minds, the poultry came from Turkey, so it’s natural the bird was called the “Turkey hen” or “Turkey” for short.
When European explorers discovered North America, they ran into a bird very similar to the “Turkey” they knew. And so, the name remained. Voila!
- Quite a delicacy
A sweetbread is neither sweet nor has it anything to do with bread. It’s the thymus gland of an animal used for food. Doesn’t it look delicious?
- Hot bath sounds perfect in any language
A Turkish bath is not of Turkish origin — it is from Rome! The baths became well known in the Hellenic-Roman period, when they were called thermae, and it’s always been an upscale place for leisure, socializing and relaxation.
- Nobody saw this coming
A cucumber is not a vegetable — it comes from the flower part of the plant and has seeds, which is why, botanically speakin, it is a fruit.
- Where is Guinea?
A guinea pig doesn’t come from Guinea nor is it not a pig. It’s a rodent. Studies suggest that guinea pigs were first domesticated more than 3,000 years ago.
- Truly domesticated caterpillar
A silkworm is not a worm — it’s a larva more widely known as a caterpillar. Silkworms only eat mulberry leaves. Among other interesting facts is that silkworms have been around for at least 5,000 years and now no longer exist in the wild.
- Call me Dragon
A horned toad is not a toad — it is a type of lizard from North America. There are 13 different types, and many of them do look like baby dragons.
- That’s bananas!
A banana tree is not a tree — it’s an herb since the stem doesnt contain the distinguishing woody tissue.
- Now, who is a mommy’s boy?
A koala bear is not a bear — it’s a marsupial, native to Australia. Koala mothers carry their babies in their pouches until they are about 6 months old.
- PB&Js will never be the same
A peanut is not a nut — it is a legume, which grows under the ground, like beans and peas.
- Catgut has nothing to do with a cat
A catgut, used for making strings, doesn’t come from a cat — in fact, it comes from sheep or horse intestines. It has been widely used in music industry for violins, guitars, and harps.
- My ears are just adorable
A jackrabbit is not a rabbit — it’s a hare. They are much bigger in size and have huge ears.
- No winter lights needed!![15.jpg]
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A firefly is not a fly at all — it is a bug, which sparkles in the dark. There are known to be 2,000 types of fireflies with a distinctive light pattern that helps them to find mates.
- When you wish upon a star...
A shooting star is not a star — it is a passing meteorite entering the atmosphere. Nothing should stop you from making a wish though.
- There’s a reason why calligraphy is a form of art
India ink is not from India — actually, it was invented in China. Because the British would buy it from India, who they actively traded with, the name stuck. Nowadays, ink is mostly used for drawing and outlining.
- Don’t I look magical? Let me jump over
A Mexican jumping bean is not a bean, but a seed with a tiny moth larva inside. When the larva moves inside, so does the bean.
- Buttercookie — am I British or Scottish?
A shortbread is not bread — it’s a butter cookie. The recipe is easy, like 1,2,3: one part sugar, two parts butter, three parts flour.
- I may look innocent, but don’t pet me
Puss caterpillar or Megalopyge opercularis may look like an innocent furry ball and may have gotten its name from resembling a cat, but it is a dangerous creature. What looks like furry hair are, in fact, venomous spines. Many people were reported to be taken to the hospital after trying to pet it. Watch out!