List of Eponyms
This is a list of about fifty common eponyms. For each eponym you'll find a definition, two example sentences, the origin and a quick quiz question.
Adam's apple
the lump of cartilage surrounding the larynx (voice box) at the front of the human neck - most noticeable on adult men
atlas
a book of maps
bobby
a police officer (informal, British English)
boycott
the withdrawal of support, or the refusal to buy or use something, as a form of protest or activism; (also a verb)
braille
a writing system composed of raised dots that represent letters. It allows blind or visually impaired people to read.
Caesar salad
a salad made with romaine lettuce and croutons, with dressing usually made from olive oil, garlic, raw egg and parmesan cheese
cardigan
a jacket-like, woollen sweater that opens at the front and may have buttons that are often left undone
Celsius
a temperature scale based on two fixed points with water freezing at 0°C (zero degrees Celsius) and boiling at 100°C. It is used in temperatures for weather, cooking and so on in most countries.
derby
a sporting event involving horse-racing, usually with young horses; some other kind of race, for example bicycle derby
Fahrenheit
a temperature scale in which the boiling point of water (212°F) and freezing point (32° F) are 180 degrees apart (today used mainly in the USA)
Ferris wheel
an amusement park ride (for example, the London Eye) consisting of a giant vertical wheel that revolves slowly as riders sit in passenger cars suspended on its outer edge
graham cracker
a light, square-shaped baked cookie that is often today sweetened with honey
guppy
a small type of fish that breeds quickly and comes in many colours. They are often kept in fish bowls and aquariums.
hoover
a vacuum cleaner; a machine for cleaning house and car interiors; also a verb
Jacuzzi
a small indoor or outdoor whirlpool with massaging jets; a hot tub
jumbo
something that is very large; also used as an adjective
leotard
a form-fitting, one-piece garment that covers the torso. It may or may not have sleeves, and is often worn by acrobats, dancers and skaters
mentor
an experienced and trusted guide or advisor; also a verb
Morse code
a message system in which letters and numbers are represented by dots and dashes or long and short light or sound signals
Murphy's law
the idea, a supposed law of Nature, that anything that can go wrong will go wrong
paparazzi
photographers who work independently and follow celebrities to get photographs of them, often in an intrusive way
poinsettia
a Mexican plant with specialized bright red leaves called "bracts" surrounding small yellow flowers. It is a popular houseplant at Christmas.
ritz
extreme luxury | more commonly used in its adjective form: ritzy
sandwich
two slices of bread with some other food between them, such as meat, cheese or peanut butter
saxophone
a brass musical instrument of the woodwind family, often used in classical music and jazz
scrooge
a person who doesn't like to share his or her money; a person who doesn't like celebrating Christmas
shrapnel
fragments of metal from a bomb or shell
silhouette
the outline of a dark shape on a light background; often the profile (side view) of a human face
teddy bear
a soft toy bear filled with stuffing
volt
a standard unit of electromotive force that drives current | abbreviation: V
watt
a standard unit of power | abbreviation: W
wellingtons | wellies
knee-length waterproof boots made of rubber or plastic
Zamboni
an electric-powered machine with a driver that resurfaces ice on an ice-rink by shaving it, clearing it and flooding it