8 words that were originally the names of people

1. Boycott

This form of punishment was named after the person who was the first to receive such public censure.

At the end of the 19th century, the English captain Charles Boycott was hired to manage an estate in Ireland. Local peasants and farmers hated the new manager for his harsh disposition and ruthlessness. They not only went on strike and refused to cultivate the land, but also isolated Boycott from the local community: they did not speak to him, they did not serve him in shops, and they did not sit next to him in church.

Now the word "boycott" refers to the complete or partial termination of relations with someone as a sign of disagreement and protest against something.

2. Breeches

These are trousers of a special cut, which tightly fit the shins and are tucked into the boots, but at the same time they greatly expand upward. It was these special trousers that were supplied to the French cavalry at the end of the 19th century on the orders of General Gaston Alexander Auguste de Gallifet. His surname became the name for this garment.

There is a version that the general, like many cavalrymen, had crooked legs, so he came up with a form of trousers that could hide this.

3. Sandwich

The earliest use of this word in relation to sandwiches dates back to 1762. It comes from the title of John Montague, 4th Earl of Sandwich. He was an avid gambler and during a long game did not interrupt for a full meal, but ate cold meat, placed between pieces of bread.

4. Pilates

This exercise system is named after its creator. A popular form of fitness today at the beginning of the twentieth century was developed by Joseph Pilates for rehabilitation after injuries. The author himself called his system counterology, but it became famous as the "Pilates method", and later became simply Pilates.

5. Jacuzzi

Initially, this is an Italian surname, and with pronunciation errors. In the native language, Jacuzzi sounds like Yakuzzi.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, seven brothers with this surname moved from Italy to the United States. One of them opened his own company, which was initially engaged in the production of aircraft, and then - hydraulic pumps for agriculture. Later, Candido Yakuzzi invented a prototype of a hot tub, the brothers improved his invention, and the word "jacuzzi" became a household word in many languages, including Russian.

6. Patron

This is the name of the rich patron of the arts and sciences. The word goes back to the name of the noble Roman Gaius Cilnius Maecenas, a confidant of Emperor Octavian Augustus. Guy Maecenas actively supported artists and poets, among whom were Virgil and Horace.

7. Cardigan

This garment is named after James Thomas Bradnell, the 7th Earl of Cardigan, an English general who fought in the Crimean War. He is credited with inventing the collarless knitted jacket with button closure, which was worn under a uniform.

8. Silhouette

The origin of this word is associated with the name of the chief controller of finance under Louis XV - Etienne de Siluet. He needed to deal with the French budget deficit, which grew rapidly during the Seven Years War. The economy proposed by Silhouette caused the dislike of the nobility, who began to call cheap and low-quality things the expression à la Silhouette.

The aristocracy also considered the paintings, made only in black paint without details, to be something small and not prestigious, therefore the name “silhouette” was assigned to them.