Q:
Why are zero scores in tennis called 'love'? A:
In France, where tennis became popular, the round zero on the scoreboard looked
like an egg and was called 'l'oeuf,' which is French for 'the egg.' When tennis
was introduced in the US, Americans (mis)pronounced it 'love.'
Q: Why do
men's clothes have buttons on the right while women's clothes have buttons on
the left? A: When buttons were invented, they were very expensive and worn
primarily by the rich. Since most people are right-handed, it is easier to push
buttons on the right through holes on the left. Because wealthy women were
dressed by maids, dressmakers put the buttons on the maid's right! And that's
where women's buttons have remained since.
Q:
Why do ships and aircraft use 'mayday' as their call for help? A:
This comes from the French word m'aidez -meaning 'help me' -- and is
pronounced, approximately, 'mayday.'
Q.
Why do X's at the end of a letter signify kisses? A:
In the Middle Ages, when many people were unable to read or write, documents
were often signed using an X. Kissing the X represented an oath to fulfill
obligations specified in the document. The X and the kiss eventually became
synonymous.
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