A thread of small discoveries

[QualityChimp]

While the word octopus is based on the Greek word the -es ending for plural is based on the English convention as opposed to the Greek and the English one comes from 3rd declension neuter Latin nouns (although in Latin you usually have to pull off a consonant suffix first).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octopus#Etymology_and_pluralization

The Oxford English Dictionary (2008 Draft Revision)^[35] lists "octopuses", "octopi", and "octopodes" (in that order), labelling "octopodes" 'rare' and noting that "octopi" derives from the apprehension that octōpus is a second declension Latin noun, though it is not.


Fowler's Modern English Usage states that 'the only acceptable plural in English is "octopuses"', that "octopi" is 'misconceived', and "octopodes" 'pedantic'.

Chambers 21st Century Dictionary^[37] and the Compact Oxford Dictionary^[38] list only "octopuses", although the latter notes that "octopodes" is 'still occasionally used'.

The descriptivist Merriam-Webster 11th Collegiate Dictionary lists "octopuses" and "octopi" in that order; likewise, Webster's New World College Dictionary lists in order "octopuses", "octopi", and "octopodes".

That's four dictionaries that say it's "octopuses" first, so that's good enough for me!

The manner of wearing trousers below the waist and revealing underwear, or "sagging", originated in American prisons where convicts aren't allowed belts because they could be used as weapons or as nooses.

It's worth adding to this fact to any yoof with their trousers below their arses that it's used in American prisons to show that the convict is showing they're available for bum fun.

That usually makes them pull up their trousers...

[monel]

No guns here! :P

Maybe it became more popular / commonplace after guns became widespread, in the UK at least?

[Guts]

The custom of "ladies first" originated from Middle Ages, when a lord and his lady would enter a room, the lord would let the lady enter first if there was an assassin waiting for them. So remember: a real gentleman always goes through the door FIRST.

Also, the samurai of Japan didn't sleep with their wives in the same bed, as women were considered treacherous creatures who might assassinate their husband in sleep. The wives were only for producing offspring, only between fellow (male) warriors could exist actual love and camaraderie.

[monel]

I think there's a few cultures where historically, true understanding for a male was thought to come only from other males, some old films get accused of having a gay element a lot, when that wasn't really the case.