Word of the Week – Just Kidding

I like the word “kid.” I use it with my children (do you know how hard it was for me to write that sentence without using the word “kid”? LOL), I use it for jests. It’s a standard part of my vocabulary. But I’ll never forget the substitute teacher in high school who said something about how his children were not young goats, so thank you not to use that word. And one of my critique partners recently caught me using it in the joking sense well before it would have been.

It seemed time to look it up. =)

“Kid” entered English with the meaning of “a young goat” round about 1200. It began being applied to children in 1590, though it was still slang at that point. It was accepted usage, however, by 1840 . . . and had in fact been a word used to describe skillful young thieves for 30 years before that. (One I didn’t know!)

The meaning of “playful tease” is from 1839 (which proves that it was a well accepted slang by then) and comes from the idea of “making a kid of, treating as a child.” Though those thieving youngsters used it to mean “coax, wheedle, hoax.”

So there you have it–a brief explanation of why we now kid our kids. 😉

On a side note, many of you know about the amazing author Sandi Rog and her battle with cancer this past year. If you haven’t heard yet about the fundraiser put together for her, please check it out at www.FundraiserForSandiRog.blogspot.com. It’s a really fun raffle with lots of prize “baskets” you can bid on with your donations, and you’ll find two that I helped put together, one of which is featured on the blog now, here. (The other isn’t up on the site yet, but keep tuned in for updates!) 

Please check this out and tell all your friends about it–it’s not only a fun chance to win some great prizes, but most of all it’s a way to help a wonderful woman who needs your prayers and support.