Words That Changed Shape
The unexpected turns a word can take between one use and another.
A pebble moved on a counting board became a sum, and a ball of thread became a hint. A piece of clothing lost a letter when speakers divided a phrase differently. The stuffing of a dish became a kind of play, while seeds scattered by hand gave a name to signals sent to millions. These changes happened by different routes, and each word keeps the earlier use close to the surface.
In approximate historical order, from the origins and events behind the words.