Butter No Parsnips

Butter No Parsnips
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Every week on Butter No Parsnips, your hosts Emily Moyers and Kyle Imperatore take you on an adventure through the weird, wacky, wonderful, and sometimes wicked history of one wayside word. Strange characters, delightful bits, and general joyousness abound, join them as they test each other's etymological expertise!

  1. 2D AGO

    181. Aumbry: Storage for Arms, Alms, and Almonds

    Where can Kyle store all of his chainmail, his holy oil, and of course his loose almonds? Emily has the answer, as the two of them chat about that most versatile vessel: the aumbry. This antique word for a cupboard has done anything but gather dust over the years. It’s also gained a wide range of spellings, pronunciations, and definitions both closely related and completely separate. Our hosts sort out whether an aumbry is more like an armory or an almshouse, and why the letters in this word have such a habit of wandering. Emily walks Kyle through some uses for aumbries you might’ve found in homes of old, as well as in churches of today. The two discuss what might go in an ambry, where this cabinet might sit in a Christian church, and what other types of church furniture might sit beside it. Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike. Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ButterNoParsnipsPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on YouTube @ButterNoParsnips Follow us on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to watch us live? Follow us on Twitch! Support us http://www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips, by visiting http://www.bnppod.com, or by contributing to our Ko-Fi at https://www.ko-fi.com/butternoparsnips⁠ Produced by⁠ ⁠Seth Gliksman⁠⁠, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore

    37 min

  2. FEB 9

    180. Jujube: How the Odyssey Almost Ended Early

    Kyle and Emily unwrap a deceptively sweet treat this week: jujube. What seems only to be a humble fruit quickly reveals a tangled history of biblical proportions. From man’s original sin, to Odysseus’ fruit-addled men, what was once medicine is now a sweet tooth’s dream. From Classical Latin and Greek, through French phonetic quirks, and into a global plant of myth, the fruit finds its way into both biblical lore and the hands of Homer’s lotus-eaters. Transcending its role as a mere plant botanical, Kyle proves jujube to be the cultural and linguistic novelty it is. Finally, the word dissolves quite literally into medicine and sweets. Kyle takes Emily for a trip to an early apothecary only to reveal it’s really just a candyshop. A small word, a long chew, and plenty of flavor left to savor. It may not totally relieve your cough, but it’ll be sweet going down at least!  Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike. Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ButterNoParsnipsPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on YouTube @ButterNoParsnips Follow us on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to watch us live? Follow us on Twitch! Support us Patreon:⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-fi: www.ko-fi.com/butternoparsnips ⁠www.bnppod.com⁠ Produced by⁠ ⁠Seth Gliksman⁠⁠, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore

    40 min

  3. FEB 2

    179. Zugzwang: From the Rules of Chess to Global Stress

    Kyle and Emily find themselves boxed in this week by a word that describes the worst kind of obligation: zugzwang. It’s a bad decision no matter what as Kyle and Emily are forced to explore the German roots of this chess-inspired word. Starting on the chessboard, they unpack the concept behind the word, how it emerged in 19th-century German chess culture, and what takes a player from stalemate to checkmate. (Or is it the other way around?) Along the way, the chess board evolves into real world conflicts as zugzwang finds itself in the headlines. The pair follow the word as it escapes into politics, power struggles, and everyday life, when no decision is the best decision, but that’s not an option. Things aren’t as black and white as they seem in this episode, and a little chess knowledge may just save the world. Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike. Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ButterNoParsnipsPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on YouTube @ButterNoParsnips Follow us on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to watch us live? Follow us on Twitch! Support us Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-fi: www.ko-fi.com/butternoparsnips www.bnppod.com⁠ Produced by⁠ ⁠Seth Gliksman⁠⁠, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore

    38 min

  4. JAN 26

    178. Guidon: How the Color Guard Got Its Colors

    Kyle and Emily show their true colors in this episode, exploring the history of flags of all kinds and learning the meaning and origin of the word guidon. This word guides our hosts through the vexing world of vexillology. Join them in learning some heraldry history, carrying the banner into battle, and seeing what our standards really ought to be. And, to boot, see Emily hoist the colors over her pirate ship and hear Kyle’s accent work in action. All of this flag talk also provides unexpected explanations for some of your favorite childhood activities. Our hosts discuss the history of why it was so valuable to Capture the Flag, and thus what made a Color Guard so important. Kyle highlights what makes flags so inspiring and beloved, and Emily learns that flags may even have power over life itself! Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike. Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ButterNoParsnipsPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on YouTube @ButterNoParsnips Follow us on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to watch us live? Follow us on Twitch! Support us ⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or by visiting ⁠www.bnppod.com⁠ Produced by⁠ ⁠Seth Gliksman⁠⁠, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore

    39 min

  5. JAN 19

    177. Tergiversation: How to Succeed in Rhetoric Without Really Lying

    This episode turns Emily into a bit of a fence sitter, as she and Kyle discuss the sting of betrayal, the dangers of devil’s advocacy, and the history of the word tergiversation. This word has our hosts turning their backs over and over again. They learn exactly what it means to converse with one another, which side of a leaf is the back, and why Caesar’s soldiers didn’t dilly-dally. While in Ancient Rome, our hosts also look at some dubious writings from Cicero and the meaning of the Latin res ipsa loquitur. Moving on from Latin legalese, our hosts look at some English speakers who both condemn and engage in tergiversation. Emily introduces the concept of weasel words, and the puzzling origins of that phrase. Before the episode closes, Kyle discovers the truly shocking number of words that the English language “turns” on. Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ButterNoParsnipsPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on YouTube @ButterNoParsnips Follow us on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to watch us live? Follow us on Twitch! Support us ⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or by visiting ⁠www.bnppod.com⁠ Produced by⁠ ⁠Seth Gliksman⁠⁠, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore

    41 min

  6. JAN 12

    176. Psammophile: A Beach Bum Like No Other

    Get your pails and shovels ready! Kyle and Emily are digging into the history and usage of the word psammophile, and building a castle fit for beach grasses, kangaroo rats, and microbiologists alike. Before they start talking about all the sand-lovers out there, our hosts chat about other kinds of “lovers” like cinemaphiles, philanthropists, and philosophers. But, before long, Emily and Kyle are combing the sand for plants and animals who find their natural habitat at the beach or in the desert. It turns out that living in sand isn’t so easy… but life, uh, finds a way! Last but not least our hosts also turn their attention to human psammophiles. Emily learns that the world of sand collection holds a lot more than meets the eye, especially if you’ve got a microscope and an active imagination. And Kyle reveals the secrets of some visually striking beach sand. Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike. Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ButterNoParsnipsPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on YouTube @ButterNoParsnips Follow us on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to watch us live? Follow us on Twitch! Support us ⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or by visiting ⁠www.bnppod.com⁠ Produced by⁠ ⁠Seth Gliksman⁠⁠, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore

    40 min

  7. JAN 5

    175. Atavism: Skipping a Generation… Or a Few Thousand

    Don’t you just love a good throwback? Emily and Kyle certainly do—and, in this episode, so do botanists, doctors, pseudoscientists, and more! Join our hosts in taking some inspiration from the past and exploring the word atavism. Our hosts begin with a look at the Latin family tree. They learn words to describe their uncles, their grandfathers, and (most useful of all) their great great great grandfathers. They also learn how plants remember their ancestors, what it means when a trait skips a generation, and why some people have three of something while others have two. It’s not all about physical resemblance today! Emily explains that atavisms can extend to things like personal habits and cultural zeitgeists. But Kyle learns that not all claims of atavism are worth believing, and in fact some can cause more harm than good. Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike. Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ButterNoParsnipsPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on YouTube @ButterNoParsnips Follow us on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to watch us live? Follow us on Twitch! Support us ⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or by visiting ⁠www.bnppod.com⁠ Produced by⁠ ⁠Seth Gliksman⁠⁠, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore

    37 min

  8. 12/29/2025

    174. Uchronia

    Time is running out! And then running in again, but weirder! Kyle and Emily are joined by producer Seth, who helps them sort reality from fiction from nonsense, and discovers the time-bending truths of the word uchronia. This word takes our three hosts everywhere from Renaissance philosophy to classic science fiction. They look at the origins of uchronia in the more familiar Utopia, find that the “u” prefix has a few tricks up its sleeve, and learn what separates a “nowhere” from a “nowhen”. Ever wondered any what-if questions about ancient Rome? Napoleon’s France? The Battle of Gettysburg? Emily and Kyle, it seems, have an alternate history or parallel universe for every occasion! And, as a treat for Seth, they’ve also got some delightful sci-fi books that answer questions absolutely no one was asking. Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike. Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ButterNoParsnipsPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on YouTube @ButterNoParsnips Follow us on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to watch us live? Follow us on Twitch! Support us ⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or by visiting ⁠www.bnppod.com⁠ Produced by⁠ ⁠Seth Gliksman⁠⁠, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore

    59 min
See All (185)

5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Every week on Butter No Parsnips, your hosts Emily Moyers and Kyle Imperatore take you on an adventure through the weird, wacky, wonderful, and sometimes wicked history of one wayside word. Strange characters, delightful bits, and general joyousness abound, join them as they test each other's etymological expertise!

Information

  • Creator
    Butter No Parsnips
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    185
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Butter No Parsnips
  • Show Website
    Butter No Parsnips

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