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September 22, 2008

Americans are word-coining fools. Dozens of new buzzwords, slang terms, and product labels enter the vocabulary every year. Many of these words leave the language again almost as soon as they arrive. Others stick around and eventually become classics. Here is my top-five list of American word inventions:

5. cocktail: Of uncertain origins, but probably in use by the time of the Revolution. The newspaper editor who first defined cocktail in print called it "an excellent electioneering potion."

4. filibuster: One of the earliest of the many colorful political terms that have entered American English over the past two centuries, the origin of this word reflects the freewheeling, no-holds-barred attitude that has always characterized politics in the United States.

3. groovy: The slang word that just won't die. It's been disappearing and reappearing since the 1930s.

2. Yankee: This word started out as an insult, but during the Revolutionary War, Americans proudly adopted the label and turned "Yankee Doodle" into their theme song.

And finally -- ta da! -- my number one American word invention:

1. okay: The word Americans gave to the world.

What's your favorite American word and why? Send a comment.

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