'Peculiar' comes from the Latin word pecu meaning cattle. From this arose a derivative, peculium, meaning 'property', since cattle were private property. The adjective related to this was pecularis, which meant 'relating to private property'. So 'peculiar' came to designate things that were a person's private property, something that belonged to you and no one else...From designating material things such as possessions, 'peculiar' soon came to be applied also to more abstract qualities and characteristics that were unique or 'peculiar' to one person or group. And since anything that distinguishes one person from the rest of humanity usually becomes stigmatized as strangeness, 'peculiar' eventually came to mean down right odd.
I must give credit to Katherine Barber who wrote this explanation in her book Six Words you Never Knew had Something to do with Pigs (and to my mom who sent me the book as an early birthday present).
4 comments:
Makes it a joy then to be a peculiar people..!
I'm glad you used a Highland bull! My girlfriend's favourite animals - reminds me of her :-)
Hi! I just just (just) started a blog on peculiarities and in the course of so doing decided I would searchkindly.com/google image search the word peculiar for any interesting material to add for today. That's when I saw the visage of a bull with handsomely enviable bangs, and decided it merited further investigation. In dutifully proceeding, it became evident to me what its greater purpose was (thanks to your insatiable word-thirst,) and because the word's explanation as you provided it was so nice and concise, I was wondering if I might copy+paste it as the newest addition to my pursuit of peculiarity? (Attributed to you, of course -- I'd have it no other way!) It would make for a fine foundation, and would be much appreciated.
Thanks and peace!
Ashley :)
Great research. Congrats for the effort :)
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